Diarrhoea

Question 1

Definition of diarrhoea

Answer 1

• Change in bowel habit
• More frequent or looser stools

Question 2

Diarrhoea history

Answer 2

• What is the normal stool pattern and how has it changed?
• Diarrhoea
  
  • Frequency
  • Volume
  • Colour
  • Presence of mucous/blood (IBD)
• Passing large lumps of stool in between the diarrhoea? (overflow)
• Onset associated with weaning/exacerbated by certain foods? (Coeliac)
• Associated symptoms of infection
  
  • Vomiting
  • Cough
  • Recurrent chest infections (CF)
  • Irritability
• Any history of:
  
  • Weight loss
  • Poor appetite
  • Abdominal pain
• Travel history

Question 3

Differential diagnosis of diarrhoea

Answer 3

• Infection
  
  • Viral gastroenteritis (+/- vomiting)
  • UTI
  • Meningitis
• Surgical
  
  • Appendicitis
  • Intussusception
• Malabsorption
  
  • CF
  • Coeliac
• Dietary distubances
  
  • Cow’s milk protein intolerance
  • Secondary lactose intolerance
• Inflammation
  
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Crohn’s