Gastro - Diarrhea Flashcards
What is diarrhea?
increased frequency, volume, or fluidity of feces
What is melena?
dark, tarry feces
What is flatulence?
excess gas
What is dyschezia?
difficult or painful defecation
What is hematochezia?
fresh blood in stool
What is tenesmus?
ineffectual straining
When does something go from acute to chronic?
if it has been over 3 weeks
Differentiate between small and large bowel diarrhea.
Small bowel diarrhea will have a large volume, weight loss, vomiting, and poor general condition associated with it
Large bowel diarrhea has less volume than small, it has mucus present, increased frequency, tenesmus, some dyschezia, weight loss, and vomiting
What type of diarrhea is this?
large bowel
What type of diarrhea is this?
small bowel
What type of diarrhea is this?
small bowel - note the melena
What type of diarrhea is this?
small bowel - large volume
What are the differential diagnoses for small intestinal diarrhea if there are no systemic signs?
Diet, helminths, Giardia, and iatrogenic
What are the differential diagnoses for small intestinal diarrhea if there are systemic signs?
Bacterial infection, viral infection, toxins/medications, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, acute pancreatitis, foreign body obstruction, intussusception
What bacterial agents can cause acute small intestinal diarrhea with systemic signs?
Salmonella and campylobacter
What viral agents can cause acute small intestinal diarrhea with systemic signs?
Distemper, parvovirus, and panleukopenia
What diagnostic test do you want to do to confirm bacterial infection as the cause of acute small intestinal diarrhea with systemic signs?
fecal culture
What diagnostic test do you want to do to confirm viral infection as the cause of acute small intestinal diarrhea with systemic signs?
fecal antigen test