Diarrhoea Flashcards
What are the three main causes of diarrhoea (in Scotland)?
Campylobacter
Salmonella
E.coli
What are the three forms of diarrhoea?
Inflammatory
Non-inflammatory
Mixed Picture
Outline the pathophysiology of inflammatory diarrhoea
inflammatory toxin damage and resulting mucosal destruction
Give a general example of inflammatory diarrhoea
Bacterial infection
Amoebic dysentry
What are the two hallmark features of inflammatory diarrhoea?
Abdo pain
Bloody stool
Are antimicrobials appropriate in inflammatory diarrhoea?
Yes, hydration alone is rarely sufficient
Outline the pathophysiology of non-inflammatory diarrhoea
secretory toxin-mediated diarrhoea
Is abdo pain usually present in non-inflammatory diarrhoea?
Rarely
What type of stools are common in non-inflammatory diarrhoea?
Frequent watery stools
What is a major example of a non-inflammatory diarrhoea?
Cholera
What is the main transporter mechanism used by cholera? what is the result?
cAMP, an increase in this causes increased Cl to leave the cells and water follows suit , this leads to the classic dehydration of cholera - “rice-water stools”
What is the mainstay of treatment for non-inflammatory diarrhoea?
Hydration
Give an example of mixed picture diarrhoea
C. diff
What are the four routine stool cultures?
Campylobacter
Shigella
Salmonella
E. coli 0157
What is the pathognomonic sign of c.diff?
Pseudomembranous colitis
