diarrhoea

Question 1

diarrhea

Answer 1

acute diarrhoea - more concerned about dehydration
- usually no treatment
- can use ORT to prevent/correct dehydration

if severe dehydration/cant drink - hospital - IV fluids

if rapid control needed or travellers diarrhoea - loperamide
- avoid in bloody diarrhoea or suspected inflammatory diarrhoea as loperamide will keep the infection inside body

loperamide - 1st line for faecal incontinence

Question 2

imp points about loperamide

Answer 2

for OTC - 12 years +
prescription - 4 years +

1-2 doses at first (2-4 mg) then 1 dose with every loose stool (max 8 doses, 16 mg per day)

MHRA warning: serious cardiac adverse events (QT prolongation) at high doses

treat overdose with naloxone