Acute Diarrhea

last authored: Oct 2009, David LaPierre

 

Introduction

Acute diarrhea lasts less than 2-3 weeks, while chronic diarrhea remains longer than this period.

Diarrhea can be difficult to fully define, as different people have different bowel habits. It is a subjectively increased frequency or decreased consistency, and should be >300 grams/day to be accurately called diarrhea.

In infants, up to 7 stools daily.

In adults, 1.2 BM daily is normal. Avg is 10 ml/kg.

 

The Case of...

return to top

 

 

Differential Diagnosis

 

Viral (most common)

 

 

Bacterial

Parasites

Diarrhea can be secretory or osmotic.

 

return to top

 

 

History and Physical Exam

  • history
  • physical exam

History

features of viral infection

  • URTI
  • resolves in 3-7 days
  • slight fever
  • malaise
  • vomiting
  • vague abdominal pain

 

features of bacterial infection

  • severe abdominal pain
  • high fever
  • bloody diarrhea
  • risk factors

Sometimes, what people consider diarrhea is actually incontinence. Explore this possibility as appropriate.

 

volume of diarrhea (amount, ie in cups x number)

bloody vs non-bloody

dietary (poorly cooked or refrigerated foods, non-absorbable sugars, lactose intolerance)

travel

recent start to medications

background of constipation

 

 

 

Physical Exam

Vitals, especially temperature and dehydration status

DRE

signs of peritonitis

 

 

extraintestinal manifestations of IBD: arthritis, apthous ulcers, erythema nodosum, iritis, scleritis, ankylosing spondylitis, pyoderma gangrenosum, clubbing

return to top

 

 

Investigations

  • lab investigations
  • diagnostic imaging

Lab Investigations

blood tests

  • CBCD
  • electrolytes
  • urea and creatinine
  • Anti-tissue transglutaminase (for celiac disease)

Stools

  • O & P
  • C & S
  • C difficile toxin
  • electron microscopy for viruses

blood, urine cultures should be done if disease is severe

Diagnostic Imaging

return to top

 

 

Management

Most cases of mild-to-moderate diarrhea are self-limiting. Avoid further transmission of disease by encouraging proper handwashing and personal hygiene and disinfection of contaminated objects.

 

Oral rehydration

oral rehydration solution

in mmol/L - total Osm 245

  • Sodium: 75
  • Glucose, anhydrous: 13.5
  • Chloride: 65
  • Potassium: 20
  • Citrate: 10

ORS contains electrolytes and carbohydrate, as sugar enhances sodium reabsorption, and water follows. Rice-based rehydration fluids work best to provide rehydration and slow diarrhea.

 

Frequent, small volumes of rehydration solutions should be given, with normal feeding should be restarted as soon as possible.

 

Zinc can also significantly reduce diarrheal output.

 

Loperimide can be used for symptom control for non-severe diarrhea. However, as diarrhea is a mechanism to expel pathogens, anti-diarrheal medications can be dangerous and have led to toxic megacolon and HUS in children infected with E coli 0157.

In adults, usual dose is 4mg to start and 2mg after each subsqeuent loose stool, to a maximum of 16 mg daily.

 

 

Antibiotics

Avoid antibiotics unless C difficile is found, if dysentry is present, at extremes of age, or if patient is very unwell.

 

C. difficile should be treated with metronidazole or vancomycin, while gram-negativebacteria can be treated with a fluoroquinolone such as ciprofloxacin.

return to top

 

 

Pathophysiology

Involvement of the distal 25 cm of the iluem will impair bile

Osmotic is the most common cause

Secretory

inflammatory.

 

return to top

 

 

The Case of...

 

return to top

 

 

Additional Resources

 

Rehydrate.org - homemade solutions

 

return to top

 

 

Topic Development

created: DLP, Aug 09

authors: DLP, Aug 09

editors:

reviewers:

 

 

return to top