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Is there blood in the stool? From the algorithm, blood in the stool should indicate that there is
Salmonella
,
Shigella
,
Campylobacter jejuni
, ulcerative colitis, and amebic dysentery. Without blood in the stool, it is more ... DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP
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Is there a positive drug or alcohol history? It is well known that alcohol can cause diarrhea, as do drugs in common use, such as digitalis, diuretics, beta-blockers, aspirin, colchicine, and other nonsteroidal anti ... DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP
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Diarrhea is defined as an increase in the volume of bowel movements. Acute diarrhea is designated as being of less than 4 weeks’ duration. Many patients describe increased frequency or decreased consistency of bowel movements as diarrhea, so the clinician should be... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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Chronic diarrhea is defined as increased volume bowel movements persisting for more than 4 weeks. Mechanisms of diarrhea are categorized as increased secretion, decreased absorption, osmotic diarrhea, or abnormal intestinal motility. Many patients mistakenly identify increased... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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Chronic diarrhea (nonbloody, without weight loss) is defined as increased total daily stool output (greater than 10 g/kg/day), associated with increased stool water content; diarrhea is classified as chronic when it lasts longer than 2 weeks. Per liter,... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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Diarrhea is considered chronic when it last longer than 14 days. Weight loss with diarrhea should always be concerning and deserves thorough investigation. Collectively the malabsorption syndromes are the most common etiologic factors.
... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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Acute diarrhea is an abrupt onset of increased fluid content of stool above about 10 mL/kg/day and increased frequency from 4–5 to more than 20 times daily. It is a major problem worldwide because of excessive loss of fluid and electrolytes in stool. In the U.S., every year... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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... The differential diagnosis of diarrhea may be approached from either an anatomic or a physiologic basis. The anatomic approach is used in Table 22. In the stomach and duodenum, pernicious anemia and Zollinger–Ellison syndrome are prominent
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... Usually a chief sign of an intestinal disorder, diarrhea is an increase in the volume of stools compared with the patient's normal bowel habits. It varies in severity and may be acute or chronic. Acute diarrhea may result from acute infection, stress, fecal impaction, or the effect of a drug... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pictures
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... Fecal incontinence, the involuntary passage of feces, follows a loss or an impairment of external anal sphincter control. It can result from many GI, neurologic, and psychological disorders; the effects of drugs; or surgery. In some patients, it may even be a purposeful... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Pictures
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... Acute Diarrhea
Infections
Viral gastroenteritis (adenovirus, Norwalk agent, rotavirus, etc.)
Bacterial
Invasive (e.g., Shigella,
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... The Enterobacteriaceae — a group of mostly aerobic, gram-negative bacilli — cause local and systemic infections, including an invasive diarrhea resembling shigella and, more commonly, a noninvasive toxin-mediated diarrhea resembling cholera. With... Causes and incidence ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... Pictures
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... Usually a chief sign of an intestinal disorder, diarrhea is an increase in the volume of stools compared with the patient’s normal bowel elimination habits. It varies in severity and may be acute or chronic. Acute diarrhea may result from acute infection, stress, fecal... Emergency interventions ... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
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... Fecal incontinence, the involuntary passage of feces, follows any loss or impairment of external anal sphincter control. It can result from various GI, neurologic, and psychological disorders; the effects of drugs; or surgery. In some patients, it may even be a purposeful... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Pictures
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... Francis G. O’Connor
Diarrhea is one of the most common clinical complaints encountered by primary care providers. Although diarrhea infrequently requires a significant diagnostic evaluation and no more than symptomatic oral... Approach ... History ... Physical examination ... Testing (5) ... Diagnostic assessment ... Pictures
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... Differential Overview
❑ Viral gastroenteritis
❑ Staphylococcal enterotoxin
❑ E. coli
❑ Salmonella
❑ Campylobacter ... Diagnostic Approach ... Clinical Findings ... Pictures
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... Differential Overview
Altered Intestinal Motility
❑ Irritable bowel syndrome
❑ Diabetic enteropathy
Inflammatory
❑ Inflammatory bowel... Diagnostic Approach ... Clinical Findings
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... Usually a chief sign of an intestinal disorder, diarrhea is an increase in the volume of stools compared with the patient’s normal bowel habits. It varies in severity and may be acute or chronic. Acute diarrhea may result from acute... Assessment ... History ... Physical examination ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures
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... Usually a chief sign of an intestinal disorder, diarrhea is an increase in the volume of stools compared with the patient’s normal bowel habits. It varies in severity and may be acute or chronic. Acute diarrhea may result from acute infection, stress, fecal... Emergency Actions ... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
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... Definedas stools that are more fluid and frequent than normal. Can be acute or chronic (>2–3wks in duration). Acute diarrhea is discussed in first section ofthis chapter, and chronic diarrhea is discussed in second section. ... Clinical Features and Diagnosis: Acute Diarrhea ... Diagnostic Approach: Acute Diarrhea ... Principle Causes of Chronic Diarrhea ... Clinical Features and Diagnosis: Chronic Diarrhea ... Diagnostic Approach: Chronic Diarrhea ... References
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... Definedas fecal soiling beyond 4 yrs of age. Until this age, children arelearning normal bowel control and bowel habits. Primary fecal incontinence exists whenchild has never achieved adequate bowel control; secondary fecal... Principal Causes of Fecal Incontinence ... Clinical Features and Diagnosis ... Diagnostic Approach ... References
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... Usually a chief sign of an intestinal disorder, diarrhea is an increase in the volume of stools compared with the patient's normal bowel habits. It varies in severity and may be acute or chronic. Acute diarrhea may result from acute infection, stress, fecal... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures
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... Fecal incontinence, the involuntary passage of feces, follows a loss or an impairment of external anal sphincter control. It can result from many GI, neurologic, and psychological disorders; the effects of drugs; or surgery. In some patients, it may even be a purposeful manipulative... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures
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Surgery is often necessary when patients are diagnosed with carcinoid cancer. But symptoms, such as severe diarrhea, often continue. Listen to the...
People with Crohn's and colitis can become malnourished because they can't absorb certain nutrients. Listen to experts discuss the complex...
Diagnosing irritable bowel syndrome today is often simpler than it has been in the past. Doctors used to focus on ruling out other diseases and...
Some people with vague digestive symptoms needlessly suffer in silence believing there is no treatment. Abdominal discomfort, bloating, and either...