Diarrhoea

Question 1

What is diarrhea

Answer 1

Diarrhea is defined as passage of 3 or more watery or loose stool over 24 hours.
diarrhea is defined as the frequency or liquidity which the mother
considers abnormal.

Question 2

Loose stool

Answer 2

Loose stool is defined as a
stool that takes the shape of a containing vessel

Question 3

There are three types of diarrhea

Answer 3

A. Acute watery diarrhea
B. Persistent diarrhea
C. Dysentery

Question 4

ACUTE WATERY DIARRHEA

Answer 4

Is defined as diarrhea that starts suddenly and lasts less than 14 days. it may be associated with vomiting
or fever. It may result in dehydration the most common cause of death is the dehydration.

Question 5

Causes of acute watery diarrhea include;

Answer 5

Rota virus
Entero- toxigenic E. coli
Shigella
Salmonella
Cryptosporidium
Campylobacter jejuni
Enteropathogenic E.Coli
Cholera

Question 6

Acute watery diarrhea can result in dehydration which is the commonest cause of death. It may also result
in electrolyte derangement including

Answer 6

a. hypocalcemia
b. metabolic acidosis.

If appetite is reduced in a sustained manner, it may result in malnutrition

Question 7

DYSENTERY

Answer 7

This is passage of watery or loose stool of infectious origin with visible blood. The most common cause is
shigella
Other causes include
Campylobacter jejuni
Entero- invasive E coli
Salmonella

Question 8

Desentry is often associated with

Answer 8

Tenesmus
Weight loss
Anaemia
Malnutrition

Question 9

Persistent diarrhea

Answer 9

It is one that starts acutely and last more than 14 days

Question 10

Causes of persistent diarrhea

Answer 10

Cause include
Entero- adherent e coli
Cryptosporidium
shigella

Question 11

Persistence diarrhea can begin as acute watery diarrhea or desentry. It results

Answer 11

in weight loss and possibly the dehydration.

Question 12

Chronic diarrhea
Examples

Answer 12

is prolonged or recurrent diarrhea that is of non infectious origin.

Examples dietary intolerance or inherited metabolic disorder

Question 13

Epidemiology

Answer 13

Transmission of agent causing diarrhea is via faeco oral route.
It occurs all over the world

Question 14

Risk factors in children increasing susceptibility to diarrhea

Answer 14

1. Failure to breastfeed for one year
2. Measles infection occurring concurrently or within 4 weeks after the measles infection
3. Malnutrition particularly severe malnutrition increases susceptibility, severity and duration of diarrhea
4. State of immuno- suppression which may be transient as with certain viral infections such as measles or prolonged as with HIV/AIDS

Question 15

Factors that can increases transmission of agents causing diarrhea.

Answer 15

1. Failure to breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months of life
2. Use of feeding bottle
3. Storing cooked food at room temperature
4. Failure to wash hands after handling faeces, after defecation and before handling food
5. Unhygienic disposal of adult, infant or animal faeces
6. Drinking contaminated water

Question 16

ACUTE WATERY DIARRHEA

Answer 16

The occurrence is more in developing countries for reasons of poor hygienic condition, malnutrition, no immunization coverage.
Diarrhea occurs in children less than 2 years of age and peaks over 6 to 11 months because this is the weaning period when food being given to infant is being contaminated with faeces.
Maternal immunity in the infant is waning.
Active immunity yet to be very effective.
Running has started, making the contamination of babies hands and feet possible with fecal matter, Ultimately baby depositing their hands in the mouth.
Rota virus diarrhea occurs throughout the year but more in the cool dry season in the tropics while bacteria diarrhea occurs more in the warmer rainy season.