DIARRHOEA - Public Health Flashcards
What is type I on the bristol stool chart
Separate hard lumps (heard to pass)
What is type II on the bristol stool chart
Sausage-shaped and lumpy
What is type 3 on the bristol stool chart
Like a sausage but with cracks on surface
What is type 4 on the bristol stool chart
Smooth soft sausage
What is type 5 on the bristol stool chart
Soft blobs with clear-cut edges
What is type 6 on the bristol stool chart
Fluffy and mushy
What is type 7 on the bristol stool chart
Entirely liquid
Describe the chain of infection
- Agent
- Transmission
- Portal of entry
- HOST
- Person to person
- Reservoir
- Portal of exit
Direct transmissions
Direct - STIs
Faeco-Oral route: Viral GE
airborne transmission examples
TB
Name 4 diarrhoea diseases
- Dysentery
- Typhoid
- Hepatitis
- Cholera
What organisms can cause diarrhoea disease
- Rotavirus
- Shigella
- E.coli
- Salmonella typhi
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis E
What is dysentery
Inflammation of the GI tract = abdo pain and diarrhoea
Characteristics of vibrio cholerae
Gram-negative vibrio
Characteristics of E.coli
Gram-negative bacillus
When does the norovirus occur
Winter
Symptoms of norovirus
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea
- Fever
- Chills
How long does norovirus last
1-3 days
How is C.diffile spread
- Falco-Oral route
2. Spores in the environment
Can asymptomatic people spread c.difficle
Unlikely
How is C.diff prevented
- Alcohol hand rubs do NOT destroy spores
- Handwahsing and soap will remove spores
C.diff spores are highly resistant to chemicals
What is SIGHT
- S - suspect C.diff as cause for diarrhoea
- I - isolate case
- G - gloves and aprons
- H- hand washing and soap and water
- T- test stool for toxin
How is c.diff managed
- Control antibiotic usage
- Standard infection control
- Surveillance and case finding
- SUSPECT
What antibiotic is used to treat c.diff
Metronidazole
How is c.diff investigated
- Stool culture
- Tissue sample in sigmoidoscopy
- Test stool sample itself
Why can diarrhoea cause death in children
- More than 3 times a day
2. Fluid loss = death
Control measures for diarrhoea
- Hand-washing
- Ensure availability of safe drinking water
- Safe disposal of human waste
- Breastfeeding of infants and young children
- Safe handling and processing of food
- Control of flies and vectors
- Vaccination
What people are at risk of diarrhoea
- A - people of doubtful hygiene
- B - children at pre-school or nursery
- People whose work involves prepping or serving uncooked food
- Social care staff
