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Your search term(s) "Diarrhea" returned 25 results.
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Diarrhea. Bethesda, MD: National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. 2009. 9 p.
This fact sheet describes diarrhea, a condition defined as one in which a person passes three or more loose, watery stools in a day. Acute diarrhea is a common problem that usually lasts 1 or 2 days and goes away without treatment. Prolonged diarrhea persisting for more than 2 days may be a sign of a more serious problem and poses the risk of dehydration. Chronic diarrhea may be a feature of a chronic disease. The fact sheet answers common questions about diarrhea, including its causes, symptoms, other symptoms that may accompany diarrhea, how to know when to see a doctor, treatment strategies, and how to prevent traveler’s diarrhea. Diarrhea can be dangerous if a person becomes dehydrated. The causes of diarrhea include viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections; food intolerance; reactions to medicine; intestinal diseases; and functional bowel disorders. Treatment involves replacing lost fluid and electrolytes. Depending on the cause of the problem, a person might need medication to stop the diarrhea or treat an infection. Children may need an oral rehydration solution to replace lost fluid and electrolytes. Readers are advised to call a health care provider if the person with diarrhea has severe pain in the abdomen or rectum, a fever of 102 degrees or higher, blood in the stool, signs of dehydration, or diarrhea for more than 3 days. The fact sheet includes a brief description of current research in this area. Readers are referred to online publications and two resource organizations: the American Gastroenterological Association at 301–654–2055 or www.gastro.org and the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders at 1–888–964–2001 or www.iffgd.org. The document concludes with a summary of the activities of the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). 2 references.
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European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition - European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Management of Acute Gastroenteritis in Children in Europe: Executive Summary. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 46(5): 619-621. May 2008.
This article presents the executive summary of evidence-based recommendations for the management of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children in Europe, as established by the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases and the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. AGE is a common disease in children and is the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. These clinical management guidelines were developed to assist health care providers at all levels of health care in Europe. The authors remind readers that Europe encompasses a large number of wealthy and less wealthy countries that differ in tradition, culture, and health care systems. New options in terms of diagnosis, nutritional interventions, drugs, and new vaccines are becoming available and may affect the severity and duration of symptoms as well as reduce the infection rate. After an introductory section, this executive summary lists 10 key points and recommendations: gastroenteritis is associated with a substantial number of hospitalizations and high costs; the severity of gastroenteritis is related to etiology rather than age, and rotavirus is responsible for the most severe cases; dehydration is the main clinical feature of AGE; hospitalization should be reserved for children in need of procedures that can only be carried out in the hospital, such as intravenous rehydration; microbiological investigations are generally not needed; rehydration is the key treatment and should be applied as soon as possible, with reduced osmolality oral rehydration solution; regular feeding should not be interrupted and should be carried on following initial rehydration; drug therapy is generally not needed—however, selected probiotics may reduce the duration and intensity of symptoms; antibiotic therapy is not needed in most cases of AGE; and prevention with antirotavirus vaccination is recommended for all European children. A final section reports conflicts of interest of the working group members. 8 references.
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Medication Induced Constipation And Diarrhea. Practical Gastroenterology. 32(5): 12-28. May 2008.
This article reviews the problems of constipation and diarrhea that occur as a side effect of medication use. The authors note that medication-induced constipation and diarrhea are frequent side effects that contribute to the costs of health care for evaluation and management and also contribute to patient morbidity. The diagnosis is often delayed due to poor association of symptom onset with the use of a medication. The authors define constipation; discuss its epidemiology, economic impact, and risk factors; consider diagnostic and treatment issues; and discuss the treatment of constipation in the setting of chronic opioid use. The next section covers the definition and mechanisms of medication-induced diarrhea, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, diarrhea associated with protease inhibitors, and chemotherapy-induced diarrhea. The authors conclude by encouraging health care providers to have a high index of suspicion when patients present with constipation or diarrhea and to obtain a detailed medication history of all medications taken in the past 2 months; this approach can avoid multiple diagnostic tests. High-risk patient populations for medication-induced diarrhea or constipation include the elderly, nursing home or long-term care residents, patients with chronic pain, those with prolonged hospitalization, and those being treated with broad spectrum antibiotics. 3 figures. 2 tables. 35 references.
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Opioid Analgesics and the Gastrointestinal Tract. Practical Gastroenterology. 32(8): 37-50. August 2008.
This article reviews the well-known constipating effects of opioid analgesic agents and considers their use to manage severe diarrhea and control high-output ostomies. Opioid alkaloids affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract by altering tonic/segmental contractions, decreasing motility and increasing transit time, and inhibiting endogenous secretions. Loperamide, diphenoxylate, and difenoxin are currently the only opioid derivatives approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating diarrhea. The author cautions that drug-drug interactions and end-organ dysfunction may exacerbate the systemic side effects of these drugs. In patients who have failed to respond to these agents, other systemic opioids may be considered. The goal of therapy to control gastrointestinal secretion should be to use the lowest effective dose with minimal side effects. Because of its safety profile, loperamide should be considered as the first-line agent in treating diarrhea and excessive ostomy output. The author stresses that careful monitoring for systemic side effects, such as drowsiness, sedation, and respiratory depression, during the initiation and dose titration phase are necessary to minimize the risks associated with opioid use. 7 tables. 49 references.
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BRAT Diet for Acute Diarrhea in Children: Should It Be Used?. Practical Gastroenterology. 31(6): 60, 65-68. June 2007.
This article considers the use of one type of diet often prescribed during acute diarrhea in children, the BRAT diet, which consists of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (or tea). The authors note that although many studies support the importance of enteral nutrition in recovery from diarrhea, there are few data concerning the effectiveness of specific food types. They review the limited data that address the safety and efficacy of diets with bananas, rice, and other dietary components in treating diarrhea. In addition, they review the nutritional content of this restrictive diet and find it lacking in energy, fat, and several micronutrients. The selection of a single type of restrictive diet, such as the BRAT diet, during diarrhea can impair nutritional recovery and lead to severe malnutrition. They conclude that prompt feeding during an acute episode of diarrhea and avoiding unnecessarily restrictive diets is the recommended dietary therapy during acute diarrhea. 1 figure. 1 table. 22 references.
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Constipation, Diarrhea, Hemorrhoids and Fecal Incontinence. IN: Pregnancy in Gastrointestinal Disorders. 2nd ed. Bethesda, MD: American College of Gastroenterology. 2007. pp 4-9.
This chapter about constipation, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and fecal incontinence is from a monograph that presents updated information about pregnancy in women with gastrointestinal disorders. The authors note that the pathophysiology of these common alterations in bowel patterns may be specific to hormonal and structural changes that occur during pregnancy and as a result of delivery. The chapter focuses on bringing readers up to date on the research in the area covered, the recommended treatments, and patient management concerns, notably issues of maternal and fetal safety. Specific topics include drug therapy, the use of dietary and behavioral modification to manage constipation, the etiology of diarrhea during pregnancy, oral rehydration for acute diarrhea, symptoms of hemorrhoids, the use of surgical hemorrhoidectomy, problems with diagnosing fecal incontinence, and treatment for fecal incontinence. The authors conclude that disturbances in bowel function are common in pregnancy and are often responsive to conservative medical therapy. 3 tables. 20 references.
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Diarrhea. Bethesda, MD: National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. 2007. 6 p.
Diarrhea is defined as loose, watery stools. A person with diarrhea typically passes stool more than three times a day. Acute diarrhea is a common problem that usually lasts 1 or 2 days and goes away on its own without special treatment. Prolonged diarrhea persisting for more than 2 days may be a sign of a more serious problem and poses the risk of dehydration. This fact sheet describes the causes of diarrhea, associated symptoms, diarrhea in children, the signs of dehydration, how to know when to contact a health care provider regarding diarrhea, diagnostic tests that may be used to help find the cause of the diarrhea, treatment options, and current research efforts in this area. Treatment for diarrhea involves replacing lost fluid and electrolytes. Depending on the cause of the problem, a person might also need medication to stop the diarrhea or to treat an infection. One sidebar offers suggestions for preventing traveler's diarrhea when traveling outside of the United States. The contact information for two resource organizations is provided: the American Gastroenterological Association and the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. The fact sheet concludes with a brief description of the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
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Managing Bowel Dysfunction. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. June 2007. 20 p.
This patient education fact sheet reviews the management of bowel dysfunction, defined as problems with the frequency, consistence, and/or ability to control the bowel movements. People may have trouble with their bowel movements due to many factors including medications, diseases or treatments for diseases, stress, or a change in eating or exercise patterns. The fact sheet reviews the physiology of the male and female digestive systems, normal bowel function, and the diagnosis of bowel problems with laboratory tests, radiologic or ultrasonic examination, special procedures, and fecal occult blood sampling. The fact sheet describes the causes, treatment, and prevention of bowel dysfunctions, including constipation, diarrhea, and fecal incontinence. A section considers specialized surgical procedures for bowel dysfunctions, including colostomy or ileostomy. Practical tips and strategies for everyday activities, meal planning, skin care, and exercise are provided; three sample menus are included. The fact sheet concludes with a brief glossary of relevant terms. 5 figures. 3 tables.
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MNT for Clostridium Difficile Disease. Today’s Dietitian. 9(9): 38-40. September 2007.
This article explores the use of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) disease, a bacterial infection that causes diarrhea and other more serious intestinal conditions including colitis. C. difficile can be acquired from a carrier and spread through direct or indirect contact with contaminated surfaces or airborne spores; individuals taking antibiotics are particularly at risk of becoming infected. In most cases, treatment of C. difficile infections requires discontinuing the problematic antibiotic along with administration of fluids and electrolytes. Relapse and recurrence are relatively common and can be more severe than the original infection. The author focuses on the use of diet strategies to help treat and manage C. difficile infections, including small frequent feedings with fluids between meals and replacement of electrolytes by including high-sodium soups and fruits juices. The author includes a section about recommended prevention strategies such as careful use of antibiotics, stringent handwashing policies, careful isolation of patients already infected with C. difficile, and disinfection of any objects that may be contaminated. A final section of the article considers the use of probiotics and prebiotics; probiotics are bacteria intended to assist the body’s naturally occurring gut flora in reestablishing themselves. 5 references.
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Post infectious Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Clinical Aspects, Pathophysiology, And Treatment. Practical Gastroenterology. 31(9 Suppl): 18-24. September 2007.
This article on postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) is from a special supplement issue of Practical Gastroenterology on the topic of IBS. The supplement reports on the proceedings of a meeting in September 2005 of a group of gastroenterologists who gathered to develop a shared understanding of the data regarding the role of intestinal bacteria in IBS. IBS is characterized by bloating, abdominal pain, flatulence, and altered bowel function, including diarrhea and constipation. In this article, the author focuses on the clinical aspects, pathophysiology, and treatment of PI-IBS, which is defined as new onset of IBS after an acute episode of infectious diarrhea. The author hypothesizes that chronic mucosal inflammation, immunologic changes, and biochemical alterations triggered by microbial infection may be involved in mechanisms leading to persistent intestinal symptoms. The differential diagnosis of PI-IBS involves ruling out other conditions that may cause prolonged diarrhea, including persistent enteric infection, co-infection, and malabsorption or food intolerance. Treatment often focuses on symptom relief, but the prevention and early treatment of acute bacterial illness with antimicrobials such as rifaximin may be important for reducing the risk of PI-IBS development, particularly in international travelers. 4 tables. 39 references.
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