Diarrhoea Flashcards
What is diarrhoea?
Diarrhoea is the passage of watery stool 3 or more times in a day.
Death from diarrhoea is majorly due to ______.
Dehydration
_________ is the second most common cause of death in children under 5.
Diarrhoea
What are the common causes of diarrhoea?
i. Infections (virus, bacteria, parasite)
ii. Gastroenteritis
iii. Cholera
iv. Botulism
v. Severe mushroom poisoning
vi. Ruptured appendix
vii. Lactose intolerance
viii. Radiation sickness
ix. Inflammatory bowel disease
x. Irritable bowel disease
xi. Ischemic bowel disease
xii. Bowel cancer
Mention 5 symptoms of diarrhoea.
- Loose watery stool sometimes accompanied by:
- Anorexia
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating and flatulence
- Nausea and vomiting
Mention the types of diarrhoea.
i. Acute watery diarrhoea
ii. Acute bloody diarrhoea (dysentery)
iii. Persistent diarrhoea
iv. Chronic diarrhoea
What kind of diarrhoea occurs suddenly, lasting from a few hours to less than 14 days with no visible blood?
Acute watery diarrhoea
____________ diarrhoea results from mucosal adherence and enterotoxin production.
Acute watery diarrhoea
The main causative organism of AWD is _______. Other causes include _______, ________ and _________.
Rotavirus
E.coli, Shigella and Campylobacter spp.
What kind of diarrhoea involves penetration and destruction of the mucosal wall?
Acute bloody diarrhoea.
What are the major causative organisms of ABD?
Shigella dysenterae
Campylobacter jejuni
entero-invasive E.coli
Salmonella
Anorexia, weight loss and destruction of the intestinal mucosa are important effects of ________.
Dysentery ( Acute bloody diarrhoea)
A type of diarrhoea with no single cause, which starts out as AWD or dysentery but lasts more than 14 days is called ________.
Persistent diarrhoea.
What microorganisms play an important role in persistent diarrhoea?
E. coli
Shigella
Cryptosporidium
What are the consequences of diarrhoea?
i. Dehydration
ii. Malnutrition
iii. Electrolyte imbalance
iv. Death
You are a pharmacist. A patient comes in complaining of diarrhoea, how do you handle it?
- Assess the situation
- Duration, frequency, food consumption, travel
- Assess risk of dehydration - Hydration and electrolyte balance
- Give rehydration fluids to prevent or reverse dehydration
- Give medication only when indicated
What are the pharmacological treatments of diarrhoea?
i. ORS
ii. Antimotility agents (not recommended for children)
iii. Antimicrobial agents ( reserved for dysentery and suspected cases of persistent diarrhoea)
iv. Adsorbents
v. Probiotics
Give 2 examples of antimotility agents for the treatment of diarrhoea.
Loperamide (Lodium)
Diphenoxylate (Lomotil)
Give 4 examples of adsorbents for the treatment of diarrhoea.
Kaolin light (Diastop)
Activated charcoal
Pectin
Attapulgite
Give 3 examples of probiotics for the treatment of diarrhoea.
Lactobacillus
Bifidobacterium
Saccharomyces boulardii
The combination of the following signs: lethargy or unconsciousness, sunken eyes, inability or reduced ability to drink water and skin returning very slowly when pinched indicates ________.
What action should be taken?
Pink: Severe dehydration.
If no other severe classification, give fluid for severe dehydration.
If there are other severe classifications, refer URGENTLY to hospital with mother giving frequent sips of ORS on the way.
- Mother should continue breastfeeding.
- Give antibiotics in case of cholera outbreak in the area if child is 2 years or older.
The combination of the following signs: restlessness, irritability, sunken eyes, intense thirst and eager drinking, and skin returning slowly when pinched indicates ________.
What action should be taken?
Yellow: Some dehydration.
Give fluid, zinc supplements and food for some dehydration.
If child also has a severe classification, refer URGENTLY to hospital with mother giving frequent sips of ORS on the way.
- Mother should continue breastfeeding.
- Advise mother to return immediately for follow up if there’s no improvement in 5 days.
How do you deal with a code green classification?
Give fluid, zinc supplements and food to treat diarrhoea at home.
Advise mother to return immediately for follow up if there’s no improvement in 5 days.
What is the composition of low osmolarity ORS?
Citrate 10 mmol
Potassium 20 mmol
Chloride 65 mmol
Glucose 75 mmol
Sodium 75 mmol
245 mmol
Cinderella’s potty can glow sometimes
