Diarrhoea

Question 1

Definitions:

a) acute
b) persistent
c) chronic

Answer 1

a) < 14 days
b) > 14 days
c) > 4 weeks

Question 2

Commonest cause of acute diarrhoea?

Answer 2

Bacterial or viral gastroenteritis

Question 3

Commonest organism causing sporadic outbreaks of gastroenteritis?

Answer 3

Norovirus

Question 4

Management of acute diarrhoea?

Answer 4

Most episodes of acute diarrhoea resolve spontaneously. Mainly supportive with rehydration, e.g. Dioralyte

Question 5

Management of patient with profuse watery diarrhoea who tests positive for C diff enterotoxin?

Answer 5

Metronidazole

Question 6

What characteristics of chronic diarrhoea suggst malabsoprtion?

Answer 6

Pale and/or offensive stools

Steatorrhoea- excess fat makes stools difficult to flush

Question 7

Features of Whipple’s disease (other than malabsorption)? (4)

Answer 7

Arthralgia
Hyperpigmentation
Cerebellar dysfunction
Cardiac signs

Question 8

Causative organism of Whipple’s disease?

Answer 8

Trophyerma whipplei

Question 9

Management of chronic pancreatitis?

Answer 9

Low-fat, high calorie, high protein diet
Pancreatic supplements
Analgesia

Question 10

Option for pain management in chronic pancreatitis?

Answer 10

Coeliac plexus block