Who is most at risk (morbidity and mortality) from acute diarrheal illness? The very young, older adults, and the immune compromised are most at risk for morbidity and mortality from acute diarrheal illness. Other risk factors include travel to developing countries, those who work in or attend a daycare, and those who are receiving or …
What disorders and infections are associated with noninflammatory diarrhea? Noninflammatory diarrhea is generally caused by infection with noninvasive pathogens that generate toxins or use other means to promote a secretory process. Causative agents include Vibrio cholerae, enterotoxigenic E. coli, staphylococcal and clostridial toxins, viruses, protozoa, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia .
What disorders and infections are associated with inflammatory diarrhea? Inflammatory diarrhea is generally associated with disorders that cause mucosal disruption. Mucosal compromise may be due to a primary (IBD) or secondary (invasive infectious organism) process. Invasive infectious agents associated with diarrhea include Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC; O157:H7), enteroinvasive E. coli, and other Shiga toxin–producing E. coli (STEC), C. difficile, E. histolytica, and Yersinia …
What are the characteristics of noninflammatory and inflammatory diarrhea syndromes? Noninflammatory diarrhea consists of a syndrome of watery, nonbloody, nonpurulent diarrhea, and often lacks prominent systemic signs and symptoms such as fever or myalgias. Specific etiologic factors often go undiagnosed and course is often self-limited. Inflammatory diarrhea consists of frequent, smaller volume, mucoid or bloody …
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What is persistent diarrhea? Diarrhea symptoms that last 14 days or longer are generally classified as persistent. The differential diagnosis of persistent diarrhea differs somewhat from acute or chronic diarrhea. In terms of infection, bacterial enteric pathogens, parasites, and protozoa are more likely to result in persistent disease and viral pathogens are less common. The …
Which bacterial organisms produce preformed toxins that cause acute diarrhea? Symptoms that occur rapidly (< 12 hours) after ingestion and include nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea are consistent with the ingestion of a preformed toxin. Some of these toxins are heat stable thus persist despite cooking of foods. The most common syndromes are caused by the (1) …
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What is acute diarrhea? The most important defining aspect of diarrhea is a change in frequency or consistency of bowel movements from baseline. For research purposes, acute diarrhea is defined as production of abnormally loose stools, with more than three episodes daily for less than 14 days. Generally a daily output increase from the normal of 100 to …