Infective causes of diarrhoea
Intraluminal infection
Systemic infection
Typically VIRAL:
1. Rotavirus (main in kids)
2. Norovirus (main in adults)
Also TRAVELLER’S diarrhoea (can be caused by a variety of things esp EHEC)
Non-infective causes of diarrhoea
Cancer
Radiation
Chemicals
- Poisoning
- sweeteners
- medications
Inflammatory bowel disease
IBS / malabsorption
Endocrine/hormonal eg Thyrotoxicosis
Anatomical e.g. post colesectomy
Evaluation for acute diarrhoea is warranted in individuals with which symptoms?
Relevant history for diarrhoea
What food is particularly related to which pathogen (+ inc. period + associated symptoms)
Which mirobes are associated with fresh water/swimming
Cryptosporidium
Giardia
Aeromonas
Which animals are particularly associated with diarrhoea causing pathogens
Reptiles - salmonella
Puppies - campy
Characteristic symptoms of small bowel diarrhoea (esp proximally)
watery, large volume
- cramping, bloating, flatulence
Characteristic signs/symptoms colonic diarrhoea
frequent, small volume, painful
May contain blood, mucus
Oft associated fever
Can see RBCs + inflammatory cells in stool microscopy
Function of action of cholera toxin
Exports chloride into lumen - water follows
-> v. watery rice water stools
What does oral rehydration for diarrhoea consist of
1L water with 6 level teaspoons of sugar and 1/2 a level teaspoon of salt
Typical site of campy diarrhoea pain; what are it’s late onset complications
Periumbilical - mimics acute appendicitis
Complications - Guillan Barre Syndrome and reactive arthritis
Site of pain in yersinia spp diarrhoea and Complications.
RLQ pain
Yersinia septicaemia - in IMPAIRED IMMUNITY or IRON-OVERLOAD states
Which antibiotics in particular can predispose to C. difficile
CLINDAMYCIN
Co-amoxiclav (penicillins)
Ciprofloxacin (quinolones)
Cephalosporins:
- CEFUROXIME
- CEFTRIAXONE
- CEFALEXIN
Any BROAD SPECTRUM antibiotics
Virulence factors of C. diff
SPORE-forming
Toxin
Gram +ve
Anaerobic
When does C. diff infection typically start
During/up to 1 MONTH after antibiotics course
Natural history of C. diff infection
Asymptomatic carriage (or -> watery diarrhoea)
-> fulminant disease with severe colitis
-> toxic megacolon (potentially)
toxin producing C. diff can cause psudomembranous colitis - layer of dead cells creating a membrane-esq
Management of C. diff
Contact precautions/hand hygiene
(hand washing > alcohol - c. diff spores not killed by alcohol)
Antibiotics:
- METRONIDAZOLE
- VANCOMYCIN
Stool transplant
Investigations for diarrhoea
STOOL TESTS:
PCR: Multi-pathogen molecular panels (use primers for specific pathogens - typically for viruses, C. diff, campy)
Blood tests:
Endoscopy/biopsy if necessary
Indications for testing for diarrhoea
Severe illness
Bloody diarrhoea/mucus
High risk (>70, immunocomp, IBD, pregnant)
Prolonged (>1 week)
Public health concerns
Diarrhoea red flags (may become severe, complications etc.)
Dehydration
Electrolyte imbalance
- RENAL FAILURE
Immunocomp
Severe abdo pain
CANCER RISK FACTORS:
- >50 y/o
- chronic diarrhoea
- weight loss
- blood in stool
- family history
What is Zollinger Ellison syndrome
GASTRIN SECRETING TUMOUR - causes a triad
GI red flags
Think ALARMS
Anaemia
Loss of weight
Anorexia (loss of appetite)
Recent onset of progressive symptoms (it’s always
low-level been there but it recently got worse)
MASSES/MELENA (or any other GI BLEEDING)
Swallowing difficulties (DYSPHAGIA)
and >55 y/o
What causes enteric fever
Salmonella Enterica subtypes Typhi and Paratyphi