Diarrhea

Question 1

Causes of Diarrhea

Answer 1

1. Infectious agents (E. coli, salmonella)
2. Food poisoning
3. Drugs (antibiotics, magnesium)
4. Fecal impaction
5. Bowel disease (irritable bowel syndrome
6. Malabsorption syndromes (lactose intolerance, celiac sprue, fat malabsorption)
7. Short bowel syndrome

Question 2

Characteristic of Stools

Bright red blood

Answer 2

Lower GI bleed

Question 2

Characteristic of Stools

Tarry black (melena)

Answer 2

Upper GI bleed

Question 3

Characteristic of Stools

Blood streaking on surface of stool or on toilet paper

Answer 3

Lower rectal or anal bleeding

Question 4

Characteristic of Stools

Bulky, greasy, foamy, foul smelling, gray with silvery sheen

Answer 4

Steatorrhea (Fatty stool)

Question 5

Characteristic of Stools

Mucus or pus visible

Answer 5

Chronic Ulcerative Colitis

Question 6

Characteristic of Stools

Light gray “clay colored” (due to absence of bile pigment, acholic)

Answer 6

Biliary obstruction

Question 7

Characteristic of Stools

Small, dry, rocky-hard masses

Answer 7

Constipation obstruction

Question 7

Characteristic of Stools

Marble sized stool/pellets

Answer 7

Spastic Colon Syndrome