Posts Tagged ‘Acute diarrhea’
Acute Diarrhea
Can be defined as diarrhea that lasts more than 4 weeks, 4 is also called gastroenteritis. Almost always considered contagious, although they are only contagious diarrhea of infectious origin. Often, what you do is reassure the patient, make sure you get adequate amounts of fluid, and wait to see your progress. In more severe cases, or where it is important to find the cause of the disease, will require a stool culture.
The most common organisms found within these crops are Campylobacter (an organism of animal origin), Salmonella (also animal), cryptosporidiosis (animal) and Giardia lamblia (lives in drinking water). The decomposing food is associated with Salmonella infections. Shigella (which causes dysentery) is less common and usually human origin.
Cholera is rare in Western countries. It is more common in travelers and is usually related to contaminated water: the ultimate source is probably sea water.
Escherichia coli is probably a very common cause of diarrhea, especially in travelers, but it can be difficult to detect with current technology. The types of E. coli vary from region to region and from country to country. Viruses, particularly rotavirus, are common in children (viral diarrhea misdiagnosed, most often by non-medical practice). Norwalk virus is rare.
Rotting food, or toxins or poisons can cause diarrhea. These toxins are the Staphylococcus (often found in dairy products that have been in contact with any infected wound of the people involved in its preparation), and Bacillus cereus (eg rice in Chinese restaurants).
Definition of Diarrhea
Diarrhea affects all races, sexes, ages and geographic regions worldwide. Water and sanitation play a crucial role in the
transmission of diarrheal disease. These environmental factors contribute to approximately 94% of the 4.000 million cases of diarrhea WHO estimates occur annually worldwide. Children under 5 years in developing countries are most affected and represent a majority of the 1,500 million annual deaths due to diarrhea. In Latin America and the Caribbean, about 77,600 children under age 5 die each year from diarrhea and the consequences of it, which means more than 200 deaths a day. While 16 of the 33 countries in the region are on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals United Nations with respect to sanitation and clean water, have yet to meet the sanitation needs of 8.4 million people, and in the case of drinking water of 6.1 million. (September 2007, data from the Population Reference Bureau in the U.S.)
The medical definition of diarrhea involves more than three stools a day or increase the amount of stool more than 200 g / 24 h in subjects adults.2 The patient perceives this as a decrease in stool consistency urgent causes and / or abdominal discomfort. This desire to evacuate, often uncontrollable, often the only or main problem, often accompanied by colic and 3 depending on the etiology, may be accompanied by mucus, pus or blood in the stool. Acute diarrhea is considered if the duration is less than 2-4 weeks and when the picture chronic diarrhea lasts more than four weeks