FN: Diarrhoea Flashcards
1
Q
Definitions
A
- Diarrhoea = raised tool water - raised stool freqeuncy
2. Steatorrhoea = raised tool fat - pale, float, smelly
2
Q
Acute features and causes
A
suspect gastroenteritits
Travel, diet, contacts?
3
Q
Chronic features and causes
A
Diarrhoea alternating with constipation: IBS
Anorexia, weight loss, nocturnal diarrhoea: organic cause
4
Q
Bloody diarrhoea causes
A
- Vascular: ischaemic collitis
- Infective: campylobacter, shigella, salmonella, E. coli, amoeba, pseudomembranous, collitis
- Inflammatory: UC, Crohn’s
- Neoplastic: CRC, polyps
5
Q
Mucus presence
A
IBS
CRC
Polpys
6
Q
Pus
A
IBD
Diverticulitis
Abscess
7
Q
Associations with medical disease
A
- Raised T4
- autonomic neuropathy (e.g. DM)
Carcinoid
8
Q
Association with drugs
A
Abx
PPI, cimetidine
NSAIDS
Digoxin
9
Q
Investigations
A
Blood
Stool
10
Q
Blood
A
- FBC: raised WCC, anaemia
- U+E: reduced potassium, dehydration
- Raised ESR: IBD Ca
- Raised CRP: IBD, infection
- Coeliac serology: anti-TTG or anti-endomysial Abs
11
Q
Stool
A
MCS and C. diff toxin
12
Q
Rx
A
Treat cause
Oral or IV rehydration
Codeine phosphate or loperamide after each loose stool
Anti-emetic if association with n/v e.g. prochlorperazine
Abx (e.g. cipro) in infective diarrhoea - systemic illness
