Diarrhoea Flashcards
Define diarrhoea
Increased frequency of bowel evacuation, with the passage of abnormally soft or watery faeces
Diarrhoea treatment timescale
Should resolve with treatment within 1-2 days
Symptoms of diarrhoea
Acute with rapid onset
- passage of watery stools, frequently
- abdominal pain, flatulence
- weakness/malaise
- nausea and vomiting
- fever
referral criteria/danger elimination for diarrhoea
- Lasts 1 day or longer in children <1yr
- Lasts 2 days or longer in children <3yrs and the elderly
- Lasts 3 days or longer in older children and adults
- History of change in bowel habit (needs referral if chronic diarrhoea as may be Crohn’s disease, IBS, bowel tumour or ulcerative collitis when lasting >3 weeks)
- suspected drug-induced reaction/ADR
- recent travel abroad (infection, consider recent outbreaks)
- presence of blood of mucus in stools
- severe vomiting
- high fever
- pregnancy (in case of infections, miscarriage, still birth, infection in newborn)
Lifestyle advice for diarrhoea
- avoid certain foods in pregnancy
- when travelling, ensure prevention of consuming contaminated water/foods, such as filtered bottle water and avoid ice in drinks
- as acute diarrhoea is self-limiting, eat a light diet and sip on plain water rather than nothing
- foods easy to digest: rice, soup, pasta, bread
- avoid fatty, spicy or heavy foods
- drink plenty of clear, non-milky fluids such as water and diluted squash
- maintain high standards of hygiene and ensure good prevention methods
- breast or bottle feeds should be continued in infants to ensure well nourishment
What foods in pregnancy should be avoided to prevent diarrhoea?
- unpasteurised cheese
- soft ripe cheeses
- blue-veined cheeses
- pates
- cold cuts of meat
- smoked fish
Name treatments for diarrhoea
Loperamide
Dioralyte
Imodium
Ilis Brownes mixture
Loperamide directions for use in diarrhoea
two capsules to start off with, after that take capsule after each loose bowel movement
Maximum 6 capsules in 24 hours
Don’t take for longer than 24 hours
Loperamide side effects
treatment of diarrhoea
headache dizziness feeling sick Constipation wind
Loperamide for treatment of diarrhoea
warnings
Do not use if pregnant
Refer to GP if doesn’t work within 24 hours
Lopeamide for treatment of diarrhoea
counselling
Small, discreet tables that dissolve instantly on the tongue, there is no need to take them with water
Designed specifically to provide fast diarrhoea relief when you’re on-the-go
Dioralyte for diarrhoea
directions for use
Seek medical advice for use in babies less than 3 months up to 1 year of age
1 sachet dissolved in 200mL of water (large glass) and mix well
5 sachets per day for 3-4 days following a loose motion
Dioralyte side effects and warnings
this medicine is not likely to cause any side effects
if for a child under 1 year of age, boiled and cooled water should be used
Dioralyte counselling
only water should be used to make the constitution, never with fruit or fizzy drinks
The solution can be kept up to 24 hours if stored in the fridge
Immodium capsules for diarrhoea
directions for use
12 years of age and older: 2 capsules then 1 capsules after each loose stool
Maximum of 6 capsules daily
