GI Viral/ Parasitic Infections

Question 1

What is a common viral cause of GE in under 5s?

What type of virus is this?

What can be said about the pattern of symptoms with this infection?

Answer 1

Rotavirus

Double stranded RNA

Vomiting and fever are first to present with diarrhoea following (lasting a week)

Question 2

Name 3 mechanisms by which rotavirus causes diarrhoea.

Answer 2

Cl- secrtion
SGLT1 disruption
Brush border enzyme dysfunction

Question 3

What is the incubation of norovirus and how long do symptoms last?

Answer 3

1-2 days

1-3 days

Question 4

Why does vomiting occur as a result of norovirus infection?

Answer 4

Delayed gastric emptying (gastroparesis)

Question 5

Why can cryptosporidium often affect people in swimming pools?

When may cryptosporidium cause severe symptoms?

Answer 5

Chlorine resistant

AIDs

Question 6

In which group of people is giardia infection often symptomatic in?

Answer 6

Children

Question 7

How can you distinguish between giardia and cryptosporidium?

Answer 7

Giardia has a longer incubation period (10+ days)

Symptoms such as abdominal cramping and diarrhoea can last for up to 6 weeks (PERSISTENT diarrhoea)

Question 8

What is a complication of giardia infection?

Answer 8

Lactase deficiency - lactose intolerance due to villious atrophy

Question 9

In 20% of symptomatic cases of Entamoeba GE what is a rare complication?

Answer 9

Liver abscesses

Question 10

What is the treatment of Entamoeba histolytica?

Answer 10

Anti-protozoals and metronidazole