Normal and Therapeutic Nutrition

Normal and Therapeutic Nutrition 3(2+1)

Lesson 22:Diarrhoea- causes, complications

Types of Diarrhoea

Three clinical syndromes of diarrhoea reflecting a different pathogenesis and treatment approaches

1. Acute watery diarrhoea: with a sudden change in bowel habits resulting in loose and frequent stools without blood, more voluminous in nature, sometimes associated with fever
Causes:
• Infections of bacteria (50%)
  Ex: E. Coli, Salmonella, Shigella, Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), Campylobacter
• Parasites: giardia, entamoeba,
• Viral infections (30-40%)
  Rota, Corono, Astro, Norwalk and Adeno virus
• Food poisoning due to bacteria infecting food and stored improperly.
• Numerous medications may also cause diarrhoea
  Ex: antacids, antibiotics, antihypertensive medications, laxatives, magnesium supplements, potassium supplements and various cardiac medications
2. Dysentery: Diarrhoea with visible blood, fever and tenesmus
3. Chronic diarrhoea: Long lasting diarrhoea due to non infectious causes.
Causes:
• Sensitivity to gluten or inherited metabolic disorders
• Vagotomy or gastrectomy, cholecystectomy
• Endocrine diseases as hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus, hypoparathyroidism

Osmotic diarrhoea: Passage of large, frothy acidic stools with severe dehydration and hypernatremia

• Due to high osmolar solutions