Diarrhea
Diarrhea
General—decrease in stool consistency, increase in stool frequency, urgency, ± abdominal discomfort
Objective definition → stool weight ” class=LK href=”javascript:void(0)” target=right xpath=”/CT{06b9ee1beed59419a81e5e1e1a4f60b0cc8cd1057525de73425b2b43f4df7f1bd62534eac906fde1253ef56d4feaccab}/ID(AB1-M10)”>>200 g per day (misses 20% of diarrheal symptoms)
Etiology—usually due to changes in intestinal fluid and electrolyte transport
Classification
Acute—typically <A onclick="get_content(event,'AB1-M12'); return false;" onmouseover="window.status=this.title; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" title="<2 to 3 weeks; rarely 6 to 8 weeks long; mostly self-limited
Chronic—lasts at least 4 weeks; usually ” class=LK href=”javascript:void(0)” target=right xpath=”/CT{06b9ee1beed59419a81e5e1e1a4f60b0cc8cd1057525de73425b2b43f4df7f1bd62534eac906fde1253ef56d4feaccab}/ID(AB1-M10)”>>6 to 8 weeks long; unlikely self-limited
Acute diarrhea
Diagnostic algorithm
Delineate between infectious and noninfectious causes
If infectious, assess severity, duration, setting, and host (i.e., is host immunocompetent?)
Management
Fluid and electrolyte replacement—death in acute diarrhea is usually from dehydration
Symptomatic treatments
