Diarrhoea

Question 1

Infective Causes

Answer 1

Bacterial gastroenteritis
Viral Gastroenteritis
C-Difficile (PMC)

Question 2

Malignancy

Answer 2

Bowel Ca

Question 3

Inflammatory

Answer 3

Chron’s

Ulcerative colitis

Question 4

Malabsorption

Answer 4

Coeliac
Chronic Pancreatitis
Short Bowel syndrome

Question 5

Drug Abuse

Answer 5

Laxatives

Excessive alcohol

Question 6

Iatrogenic

Answer 6

SE of new medication

• antibiotics (erythromycin)
• metformin
• colcichine
• gaviscon
• PPIs

Question 7

Endocrine Causes

Answer 7

Hyperthyroid

Autonomic neuropathy, secondary to diabetes

Question 8

Other

Answer 8

Diet
IBS
Overflow Diarrhoea

Question 9

Rare Causes

Answer 9

Carcinoid
Radiation colitis
VIPoma (insulin secreting)
Whipple’s disease

Question 10

Bloods

Answer 10

TFTs
FBC (+folate, b12, iron if anaemic)
HbA1c
LFTs + GGT (alcohol)
TTG

Question 11

Stool Ix

Answer 11

If suspective infective cause: MC&S

Faecal Calprotectin if IBD

Question 12

RED FLAGS

Answer 12

PR bleeding
melaena
weight loss
chronic diarrhoea

Question 13

Red Flag Ix

Answer 13

FBC and haematinics

Colonoscopy with biopsy
Gastroscopy if melaena

Question 14

Social Hx

Answer 14

• Alcohol
• Travel
• Food exposure
• Diet (high red meat?)
• Smoking (chron’s)

Question 15

Drug Hx

Answer 15

New medication
Laxatives
Opiates in elderly ?overflow

Question 16

Fam Hx

Answer 16

Coeliac
IBD/IBS
Diabetes
Bowel Ca