DIARRHOEA

See also

Parasites

Notes
Define:

• Stool frequency on each day of illness ie. is the diarrhoea more or less frequent. If persists for over one week. Contact your GP
• Nature of diarrhoea. What colour? Is there blood, if so is it mixed with motion?
• Is there associated vomiting? If so might the patient be dehydrated?
• Is there systemic upset? ie. associated fever, off food, pain etc. If at all severe contact your GP.

Danger signs

• Bowel obstruction/appendicitis may present with diarrhoea (and vomiting) as bowel empties either side of obstruction. Usually (and also) continuous abdominal pain. Contact GP urgently.
• Blood mixed with diarrhoea. Food poisoning is possible if febrile. May be potential to contaminate. Sometimes inflammatory bowel disease. Contact GP.
• Black diarrhoea - Melaena. May be associated with bleeding in upper gut.Contact GP urgently.
• De-hydration, Drowsy - low urine output. Contact GP urgently

Notes for children

• Very common - avoid antidiarrhoeals. Keeping adequately hydrated (monitor urine output - normal amount of dilute urine) even if vomiting. Best hydrated with electrolyte and sugar combination.

Notes for the elderly

• Check able to take normal medicines?
• Could this be a medicine side effect?
• Change in bowel habit. Contact GP

General advice

• Prophylaxis for travel - water filtration - water sterilisation.
• Most rapid recovery by drinking and getting rid of germ as quickly as possible from body.
• Give anti-diarrhoeals only if have to travel or symptomatic relief is essential; (eg elderly at night).

Therapy

• Anti-diarrhoeals.
• Electrolyte and sugar solutions.

Dictionary

Electrolyte: any compound that, in solution, conducts a current in electricity and is decomposed by it. An ionizable substance in solution.
Melaena: passage of dark coloured, tarry stools, due to the presence of blood altered bv the intestinal juices.
Prophylaxis: any means taken to prevent disease, eg. immunisation.

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