Epistemis

Diarrhea

Specialty: Gastrointestinal.

  • liquid stools
  • decomposition

Why it occurs

  • Infectious gastroenteritis
  • Food poisoning
  • Drugs (antibiotics)
  • IBD
  • C. difficile colitis

Initial workup

Assess dehydration; stool culture and parasites if it is prolonged, with blood or fever.

red flags

Bloody diarrhea, high fever, severe dehydration or in immunocompromized patients → do not use antidiarrheals; study.

Standard management

  • Oral rehydration salts — pillar of treatment
  • Loperamide — non-inflammatory diarrhea, without fever or blood
  • Targeted antibiotic — only selected cases

Educational guidance for study. It is NOT a prescription recommendation. The actual choice depends on the cause, the patient, and current guidelines.

PreviousFractional defecation
Area
Gastrointestinal
Listed causes
5
Treatment options
3
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