Dirrhoea TBL Flashcards
what is a change in bowel habit?
any alteration in the patients regular bowel function for longer than 6 weeks
is cirrhosis a differential diagnosis of change in bowel habit?
no
what are some differential diagnoses of a change in bowel habit?
infective gastroenteritis coeliac disease Bowel cancer UC IBS
what is acute diarrhoea?
an abnormally frequent discharge of semisolid or fluid faecal matter from the bowel lasting less than 14 days
>14 days = persistant
what are some types of diarrhoea?
secretory (cholera)
Dysentery
Osmotic (can be caused by osmotic agents eg. sorbitol)
Inflammatory
is haemorrhagic a type of diarrhoea?
no
what is the definition of constipation?
infrequent movements (typically 3 times or less per week) and difficulty during defecation (straining more than 25% of bowel movements or a subjective sensation of hard stools)
22 yrs old 3 weeks of bloody diarrhoea LIF pain Temperature Travelled to Thailand 10 months ago
infective gastroenteritis
Investigate with stool culture (only AXR if suspected colitis)
6 months episodic diarrhoea abdominal pain bloating stress caesarean section symptoms 4 days after episode of watery diarrhoea on holiday
IBS
coeliac can present after an episode of infectious diarrhoea but not most likely as usually presents in children and young adults
how would you investigate?
FBC & U&Es = reassurance as IBS doesn’t show up on bloods so diagnosis of exclusion
Colonoscopy or CT if suspicion of more serious problem
Coeliac testing if suspicion
34 years old 3 months loose stools abdominal discomfort Ex smoker travelled to spain 2 months ago No contacts/drugs Pale Itchy rash Normal abdominal exam
Dermatitis hepetiformis (rash down front of forearms) + diarrhoea = coeliac Crohns also possible not rash indicates coeliac
