Food poisoning and Clostridium Difficile Flashcards
List the number of pathogens that can cause gastroenteritis
1, Bacteria
2. Virus
State the causes of bacterial gastroenteritis
- Eats undercooked meats or eggs
- Eats raw fish or oysters
- Drinks water that has not been treated
- Performs improper food handling
List Pathogens that can cause Gastroenteritis
. Campylobacter jejuni
- E.coli
- Salmonella spp
- Shigella spp
Viral gastroenteritis is incredibly common, can affect the population throughout the year however, we do tend to see greater numbers in the winter months when transmission is much easier. True or false
True
Viruses cause an inflammation of the stomach and intestines True or false?
True
List the settings viral gastroenteritis can easily spread
- Childcare facilities
- Schools
- Nursing homes
- Cruise ships
The two most common causes of viral gastroenteritis are
- Rotavirus - normally affecting young children.
* Norovirus - often referred to as the winter vomiting bug, which can affect all ages.
In the majority of patient groups bacterial and viral gastroenteritis is a self limiting condition. True/false?
True
State the clinical features of mild dehydration
- lassitude
- Light-headedness
- Nausea
- Potential hypotension
State the clinical signs and symptoms of moderate dehyration
symptom signs
Apathy/tiredness — Pinch face
Dizziness —— Dry tongue or sunken eyes
Nausea —- Reduced skin elasticity
Headache —– Tachycardia
Postural hypertension— Oliguria
Muscle cramps ——–
State the symptoms and signs of severe hydration
Symptoms Signs
profound apathy —– Shock
weakness ——- Taachycardia
Confusion leading to coma —- Marked peripheral
vasoconstriction, Systolic
blood pressure <90mmhg
Uraemia, oliguria or anuria
Rehydration and Dietary Advice for Children
Many children will suffer from mild symptoms and present without clinical dehydration. In these instances, the following advice should be considered:
• Continue with the usual feeds, including breastfeeding (if applicable) and other milk feeds.
• Offer oral rehydration salt (ORS) solution as supplemental fluid to children at increased risk of dehydration.
• Encourage fluid intake but discourage the drinking of fruit juices and carbonated drinks, as these are very acidic for the stomach
Rehydration and dietary advise for a child with symptoms of dehydration
- Use ORS solution to rehydrate. Give frequently and in small amounts.
- Consider supplementation with the child’s usual fluids if they refuse to take sufficient quantities of ORS solution but do not have red flag symptoms and signs (such as the child appears unwell or is deteriorating, altered responsiveness, sunken eyes, tachycardia, tachypnoea, or decreased skin turgor).
- Avoid giving solid food until dehydration is corrected.
- Seek urgent medical advice if the child is unable to drink, or vomits persistently.
Advice after dehydration
- Encourage the child to drink plenty of their usual fluids, including milk feeds (if these were stopped).
- Avoid giving the child fruit juices and carbonated drinks until the diarrhoea has stopped.
- Reintroduce the child’s usual diet.
- Give children at increased risk of dehydration 5 mL of ORS solution per kilo-gram body weight after each large watery stool to prevent recurrence of de-hydration.
Dehydration and Dietary Advise for Adults
- In most otherwise healthy adults, encouraging fluid intake will be sufficient.
- Consider supplementing fluid intake with oral rehydration salt solution in adults at increased risk of a poor outcome.
- People who are 60 years of age or older, frail, or with comorbidities with which dehydration, hypovolaemia, or haemo-concentration would be a problem (for example cardiovascular disease or thrombotic tendencies). In these cases, referral to the GP or hospital would be advised.
- After rehydration, advise that the consumption of solid food should be guided by appetite. Small, light, non-fatty, and non-spicy meals may be better tolerated
