Diarrhoea
Definition
It is a condition characterised by passage
of liquid stools,often associated with an increase in frequency of passage of
stools.
Aetiology
Diarrhoea may be acute or chronic. There
are a large number of causes of diarrhea ,of which only theimportant ones are
shown in the following table:-
Causes
of Diarrhoea
|
Type |
Conditions |
|
Acute |
.Acute gastroenteritis. .Excessive ingestion o alcohol. .Dietetic. .Food poisoning. .Chemical poisoning. .Dysentery. .Nervous diarrhea. |
|
Chronic |
.Ulcerative colitis. |
|
|
.Regional enteritis(Crohn’s disease). .Diverticulitis. .Sprue. .Abdominal tuberculosis. .Pellagra: Deficiency of vitamin B. .Irritable bowel syndrome. .Thyrotoxicosis. .Carcinoma of bowel. |
Acute
gastroenteritis in adults
Aetiology
1.Excessive ingestion of alcohol.
2.Ingestion of too hot or spicy food.
3.Ingestion of food difficult to digest.
4.Ingestion of rotten food,fish,fruit.
5.Arsenic poisoning.
6.Lead poisoning.
7.Mercury poisoning.
8.Drugs:Ampicillin,tetracycline.
Clinical
features
1.Passage of liquid stools frequently.
2.Pain in abdomen.
3.Vomiting.
4.Fever.
5.Weakness.
6.Dehydration.
Treatment
1.Plenty of liquids orally:Water
,limejuice, buttermilk,ricewater,coffee without lime,arrowrooconjee.
2.Solid food,especially hot and spicy food
is avoided.
3.Severe diarrhea is treated with oral
rehydration therapy,in which physiological salt solutions are given orally to
correct dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
4.If the patient does not respond to
treatment in 1 to 2 days, the stool is examined for conditions like cholera.Any
condition diagnosed is treated appropriately.
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