Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea

Diarrhea is the passing of loose or liquid stool, more often than normal.Diarrhea is not a disease but rather a sign of many different diseases. Usually infection (viral, bacterial, parasitic)

Symptoms

Loose frequent bowel movements, dehydration.

Diagnosis

1. Morphological evidence/ physical examination

• Frequency, consistency & shape of faeces.
• Detection of Abnormal elements
• Blood, mucus, fibrin, ova, larvae and adult helminth.

2. Endoscopic studies (to visualize mucosa of oesophagus, stomach & colon)

3. Proctoscopy or colonoscopy

4. Biospy of affected mucosa followed by cytological and historical examination of impression smear

5. Examination for parasite

1. Macroscopic
2. Microscopic

Qualitative –

• Qualitative smear technique
• Sedimentation method

Quantitive –

• Stoll’s method
• Mc master technique    

Treatment

• Correction of primary cause
• Correction of dehydration, acidosis, electrolyte balance (supportive therapy), diet regulation
• Symptomatic therapy

Supportive therapy

• Isotonic fluid -ringer’s lactate
• Normal Saline

Symptomatic therapy

• To reduce bowl movement
• To improve consistency of faeces

Drug reducing Motility

• Diphenoxylate & Atropine preparation
• Adsorbent & protectant
• Pectin & kaolin

Specific Therapy

1. Antibacterial
2. Sulphonamide
3. Amoxicillin @ 4-10 mg/kg. B.W, orally
4. Antiprotozoal
5. Metronidazole
6. Anthelmintic
7. Piperazine