L 27 - Diarrhoea

Question 1

What does dysentery mean?

Answer 1

Presence of blood in the diarrhoea

Question 2

What are the causes of diarrhoea?

Answer 2

1. parasites
2. viruses
3. bacteria and/or bacterial toxins
4. other toxins
5. fungi
6. algae
7. ischaemia
8. sterile inflammation
9. neoplasia
10. hyperosmolar luminal contents

Question 3

What is typhilitis?

Answer 3

inflammation of caecum

Question 4

what is the inflammation of the rectum called?

Answer 4

proctitis

Question 5

what is enteritis?

Answer 5

inflammation of the small intestine

Question 6

what is gastroenteritis?

Answer 6

Inflammation anywhere along the GIT

Question 7

What are some potential consequences of diarrhoea?

Answer 7

1. weight loss
2. electrolyte depletion (sodium, potassium, bicarbonate)
3. acid-base imbalance
4. dehydration
5. hypovolaemic shock
6. death

Question 8

what is the difference between the small intestine and large intestine when it comes to water absorption?

Answer 8

Large intestine has tighter junctions between enterocytes so the things being absorbed cannot go backwards into the lumen - but in the small intestine they can

Question 9

What are common clinical signs in large intestine diarrhoea?

Answer 9

urgent defaecation
mucoid faeces 
tenesmus dyschezia (straining to poop)
haematochezia (fresh blood)
vomiting not related

Question 10

What are common clinical signs for small intestine diarrhoea?

Answer 10

weight loss
increased frequency of defecation 
faecal volume often increased 
steatorrhoea (fat in faeces) 
variable appetite - vomiting will sometimes occur afterwards