Week 3 GI lectures Flashcards
What are the symptoms of an enteric infection?
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- Non intestinal symptoms
Botulism
Guillain Barre (campylobacter)
What is indicated when vomiting is a predominant symptom?
- Ingestion of a preformed toxin
- viral aetiology (norovirus)
What is the definition of diarrhoea?
3 or more loose or watery stools per day
What are the different pathological mechanisms that cause diarrhoea?
- toxin mediated
- damage to the intestinal epithelial surface
- invasion across intestinal epithelial barrier (enterocytes infected)
What are the three main things when assessing a patient with GI symptoms?
- History
- stool examination / culture
- endoscopy
What information should be gathered when taking a history from a patient relating to enteric infection?
- Food history
- Onset and nature of symptoms
- Residence
- Occupation
- Travel
- Pets/hobbies
- Recent hospitalisation/antibiotics
- Co-morbidity
What are treatment options for enteric infection?
- Oral rehydration solution
- Fluid IV replacement may be required if there’s a lot of vomiting
- Antibiotics
Who should get antibiotics for diarrhoea?
- Very ill patients
Sepsis or evidence bacteraemia - Consider if significant co morbidity
Reduction in duration diarrhoea clinically meaningful - Certain causes
C.difficile associated diarrhoea (metronidazole/vancomycin)
What are the symptoms of campylobacter gastroenteritis?
- Diarrhoea Frequent and can be high volume Blood in stool common - Abdominal pain Often severe - Nausea common / vomiting rare - Fever
What is the clinical course of campylobacter gastroenteritis?
Self limiting - 7 days
What are potential complications of campylobacter gastroenteritis?
- Reactive arthritis
- Guillain barre
What are the symptoms of salmonella?
Nausea, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, fever
What is the pathogenesis of E. coli?
Attachment –>Shiga toxin production –> Enterocyte death –> Enters systemic circulation
What are the symptoms of E.coli?
Bloody diarrhoea and abdominal tenderness
What is Haemolytic uraemic syndrome?
A systemic effect of shigatoxin that results in a triad of:
- Microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia
- Acute renal failure
- Thrombocytopenia
What is the pathogenesis of C. diff?
Decreased colonisation resistance –> colonic colonisation –> toxin production
What are the risk factors for C. Diff?
- Antibiotic exposure
- older age (>65 years)
- hospitalisation
What are the symptoms of C. diff?
- Loose stool and colic
- Fever
- Leucocytosis
- Protein losing enteropathy
What is the treatment of C. Diff?
- Stop causative antibiotics if possible (narrow spectrum)
- Metronidazole/ Vancomycin
- Recolonise with normal flora
How is norovirus transmitted?
Faecal oral route
What are the clinical features of norovirus?
- Acute diarrhoea and vomiting
- Lasts 24-48 hours
- No lasting immunity
What shape are red blood cells?
Biconcave discs
What is the total body content of iron?
4g
How is the total body content of iron distributed?
- Bone marrow and RBCs – 3g
- RES – 200-500mg
- Myoglobin – 200-300mg
- Enzymes – 100mg
What are the two ways iron can be stored?
Ferritin and hemosiderin
How is ferritin as a storage facility for iron?
- Soluble
- Iron safe and readily available from RES
Serum Ferritin - Tiny amount in serum- directly related to RES iron stores