Infective Diarrhoea Flashcards
What is diarrhoea?
Increased stool frequency and volume, decreased consistency
What viruses can cause diarrhoea?
Rotavirus - children, norovirus, adenovirus
What bacteria can cause diarrhoea?
E.coli, salmonella, C. difficile
What parasite can cause diarrhoea?
Giardia
What antibiotics can cause diarrhoea?
Cephalosporins, penicillins
What chronic conditions can cause diarrhoea?
IBS, IBD, coeliac’s, bowel cancer
What are risk factors for diarrhoea?
Foreign travel, crowded area, poor hygeine
How does infective diarrhoea present?
Loose stools, vomiting, abdo pain
How does viral infective diarrhoea present?
Fever, fatigue, headache, myalgia
What are red flags?
Blood, recent hospital treatment, antibiotic treatment, persistent vomiting, weight loss, painless watery diarrhoea
What investigations would you do?
History, look for dehydration, stool culture
How would you manage infective diarrhoea?
Treat cause, oral rehydration, anti-motility, antibiotics if gastroenteritis, anti-emetics
What anti-motility drugs are available?
Loperamide, codeine
