Diarrhoea Flashcards
Duration of acute diarrhoea
<14 days
When should symptoms begin to resolve in acute diarrhoea?
2-4 days
Causes of acute diarrhoea
Infection
S/e of drug
Acute symptom
Chronic GI disorder
Accumulation of non-absorbed osmotically active solutes in the GI lumen (e.g., lactase deficiency)
Management of acute diarrhoea with severe dehydration
Hospital admission for IV fluids
Treatment of acute diarrhoea
Type of acute diarrhoea this drug is used in
Loperamide
Mild-moderate travellers’ diarrhoea
Faecal incontinence
Which type of acute diarrhoea should you avoid the use of loperamide?
In bloody or suspected inflammatory diarrhoea (febrile patients)
In cases of significant abdominal pain
Adjunct therapy to rehydration for the symptomatic treatment of uncomplicated acute diarrhoea
Racecadotril
At what age can racecadotril be used?
> 3 months
Antibacterial of choice for acute diarrhoea caused by bacterial infection
Ciprofloxacin
Red flag symptoms associated with acute diarrhoea
Unexplained weight loss
Rectal bleeding
Persistent diarrhoea
A systemic illness
Has received recent hospital treatment or antibiotic treatment
Following foreign travel
Age restrictions for OTC loperamide and POM loperamide
OTC: 12 years+
POM: 4 years+
Max dose of loperamide
16mg daily
Usual dose of loperamide
2-4mg at first, then one with every loose stool
Loperamide overdose treatment
Naloxone
Loperamide MHRA warning
Serious cardiac reactions (QT prolongation) with high doses
