Diarrhoea

Question 1

Definition of diarrhoea

Answer 1

Passage of >3 loose stools per day

Question 2

Define:
Acute diarrhoea
Persistent diarrhoea
Chronic diarrhoea

Answer 2

Acute: <14 days
Persistent: >14 days
Chronic: >4 weeks

Question 3

Most common cause of acute diarrhoea

Answer 3

Viral/ bacterial infection

Question 4

Other causes of acute diarrheoea

Answer 4

Anxiety, drugs, food allergy, acute appendicitis

Question 5

Causes of chronic diarrhoea

Answer 5

IBS, IBD, coeliac disease, bowel cancer

Question 6

Causes of bloody diarrhoea (infection/ structural)

Answer 6

Infection: campylobacter, shigella, salmonella, e coli, amoeba

Structural: IBD, polyps, ischaemic colitis

Question 7

Causes of explosive diarrhoea

Answer 7

Rotavirus, giardia, cholera

Question 8

Causes of pus in diarrhoea

Answer 8

IBD, diverticulitis, fistula/ abscess

Question 9

Causes of steatorrhoea

Answer 9

Pancreatic insuffciency or biliary obstruction

Question 10

Red flags for diarrhoea

Answer 10

Blood in stool
Recent hospital treatment or abx use
Weight loss
Dehydration
Nocturnal symptoms

Question 11

Indications for stool sample

Answer 11

Systemically unwell
Blood or pus
On abx/ PPI
Recent foreign travel

NO SYSTEMIC SIGNS + SYMPTOMS = NO STOOL SAMPLE NEEDED!

Question 12

Investigations in chronic diarrhoea

Answer 12

FBC, U+Es, LFTs, calcium, B12, folate, ferritin, TFTs, ESR, CRP, test for coeliac disease

Question 13

What does ORT contain?

Answer 13

Glucose
Sodium
Potassium
Chloride
Citrate