Gastroenteritis Flashcards
What is the definition of Travellers’ Diarrhoea?
3 loose to watery stools in 24 hours with or without one or more of the following:
- abdominal cramps
- fever
- nausea
- vomiting
- blood int he stool.
What is the most common cause of Travellers’ Diarrhoea??
Escherichia coli
Food poisoning usually happens suddenly after eating. What are the most common causes?
- Staphylococcus Aureus
- Bacillus cereus
- Clostridium perfringens
Common amonst travellers, watery stool and abdominal cramps and nausea.
Eschericia coli
Prolonged, non-bloody diarrhoea
Giardiasis
Profuse watery diarrhoea with severe dehydration resulting in weight loss.
Not common amonst travellers.
Cholera
Bloody diarrhoea with vomiting and abdominal pain.
Shigella
Severe vomiting with a short incubation period.
Staphylococcus aureus
A flu-like prodrome is usually followed by crampy abdominal pains, fever and diarrhoea which may be bloody.
NOTE: complications of this include Guillian-Barre Syndrome.
Campylobacter
Two types of illness are seen.
1/ Vomiting within 6 hours, stereotypically due to rice.
Diarrhoea illness occuring after 6 hours.
Bacillus cereus
Gradual onset bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain and tenderness which may last for several weeks.
Amoebiasis
What is the incubation period of staphylococcus aureus?
1-6 hours
What is the incubation period of bacillus cereus?
1-6 hours
NOTE: the vomiting subtype will have an incubation period of 6-14 hours.
What is the incubation period of salmonella?
12-48 hours.
What is the incubation period of E. Coli?
12-48 hours.
What is the incubation period of shigella?
48-72 hours
What is the incubation period of campylobacter?
48-72 hours.
What is the incubation period of amoebiasis?
> 7 days
What is the incubation period of Giardiasis?
> 7 days.
What does the BNF recommend treating invasive diarrhoea (causing bloody diarrhoea and fever) with?
Ciprofloxacin
Most cases of viral or bacterial gastroenteritis do not require treatment, but in what conditions is it recommended?
When the patient is immunocompromised or when there is a severe infection.
What antibiotic is used to treat non-invasive diarrhoea (non bloody and no fever) or traveller’s diarrhoea (E.coli)?
Clarithromycin.
What is the bug that causes Amoebiasis?
Entamoeba histolytica
An amoeboid protozoan
How is ameobiasis spread?
Faecal to oral route
What percentage of the world’s population are chronically infected with amoebiasis?
10%
What does stool microscopy show on amoebic dysentery?
Trophozoites
What is the treatment for amoebiasis?
Metronidazole
What are two complications of amoebiasis?
Liver and colonic abscesses
Describe how a amoebic liver abscess might present?
A single mass in the right lobe.
Fever and RUQ pain.
Serology positive >90%
