Gastroenteritis

Question 1

Traveller’s diarrhoea

Answer 1

At least 3 loose to watery stools in 24 hours with or without:

• abdominal cramps
• fever
• nausea
• vomiting
• blood in stool

Question 2

Common cause of gastroenteritis

Answer 2

Escherichia coli

Question 3

Acute food poisoning

Answer 3

Sudden onset nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea after ingestion of a toxin

Question 4

Causative organisms of acute food poisoning

Answer 4

Staph aureus
Bacillus cereus - found in reheated rice
Clostridium perfringens

Question 5

Escherichia Coli presentation

Answer 5

Common amongst travellers
Watery stool s
Abdominal cramps and nausea

Question 6

Giardiasis presentation

Answer 6

Prolonged non- bloody diarrhoea

Question 7

Cholera presentation

Answer 7

Profuse watery diarrhoea
Severe dehydration resulting in weight loss
Not common amongst travellers

Question 8

Shigella presentation

Answer 8

Bloody diarrhoea

Vomiting and abdo pain

Question 9

Staph aureus presentation

Answer 9

Severe vomiting

Short incubation period

Question 10

Campylobacter presentation

Answer 10

Flu like prodrome followed by

• crampy abdominal pains
• fever
• diarrhoea - can be bloody

May mimic appendicitis

Question 11

Complication of campylobacter

Answer 11

Guillain barre syndrome

Question 12

Bacillus cereus presentation

Answer 12

2 types:

• vomiting within 6 hours due to recooked rice
• diarrhoea after 6 hours

Question 13

Amoebiasis presentation

Answer 13

Gradual onset bloody diarrhoea
Abdominal pain
Tenderness
May last several weeks

Question 14

Incubation period

Answer 14

1 - 6 hours - staph aureus and bacillus cereus

12 - 48 hours - Salmonella and Escherichia

48 - 72 hours - Shigella and campylobacter

7+ days - giardiasis and amoebiasis