Infections and Infestations of the GI Tract Flashcards
1
Q
What is gastroenteritis?
A
- Diarrhoea +/- vomiting
- Due to enteric infection
- With virus, bacteria or parasites (schistosomiasis)
- Most commonly viral (50-60%)
2
Q
What is the difference between acute and persistent diarrhoea?
A
- Acute → > 3 episodes/day for < 14 days
- Persistent → > 14 days
3
Q
What is dysentery?
A
Infectious gastroenteritis with bloody diarrhoea
4
Q
What is the #1 bacterial cause for gastroenteritis?
A
Campylobacter
5
Q
What are non-infective causes of diarrhoea?
A
- IBD
- IBS
- Diverticular disease
- Malabsorption eg. coeliac
- GI lymphoma
- Colorectal cancer
6
Q
What are two important viruses that cause GI infection?
A
- Norovirus
- Rotavirus
7
Q
What are key features of norovirus?
A
- Most common cause of GI infection
- Acute onset
- Vomiting / watery diarrhoea / abdo cramps
- Usually self-limiting
- Common in old, young + hosp patients
- Diagnosis → PCR
- Rx → supportive only, isolation
8
Q
What are key features of rotavirus?
A
- Commonest cause in children (50%)
- Watery diarrhoea / Vomiting / Fever / Abdo pain
- Diagnosis → Stool test (Ag)
- Rx → Supportive
9
Q
What are common bacterial organisms that cause GI infection?
A
- Campylobacter
- Salmonella
- Shigella
- C. Difficile
- E. Coli
10
Q
What are key features of campylobacter?
A
- Bloody diarrhoea
- Malaise / Pain / Fever / Headache
- Rx → supportive, abx (clarithromycin, doxcy, macrolide)
11
Q
What are key features of salmonella?
A
- Bloody diarrhoea
- Cramps / Fever
- Rx → supportive, ciprofloxacin
12
Q
What are key features of shigella?
A
- Watery and bloody diarrhoea
- Pain / tenesmus / fever
- Diagnosis → stool culture / PCR
- Rx → supportive, nutrition, zinc if <6y, Abx if systemic - ciprofloxacin
13
Q
What are key features of C. Diff?
A
- Due to overuse of Abx
- Smelly + bloody diarrhoea
- Fever / Colitis
- No vomiting
- Diagnosis → clinical, raised WCC, PCR + culture
- Rx → oral metronidazole / oral vancomycin (severe)
- Isolate for 48H
14
Q
What are key features of E. Coli?
A
- Most common in type of travellers diarrhoea
- Watery diarrhoea, cramps
- Diagnosis → stool (toxin)
- Rx → supportive
15
Q
What are key features of giardiasis?
A
- Parasite infection
- Think traveller if not resolving after 3-4 weeks
- Asymptomic diarrhoea (steatorrhoea) / bloating / pain / malabsorption
- Rx → metronidazole / tinidazole / albendazole
