Diarrhoea

In acute diarrhoea what frequency of bowel motions is considered severe?

More than 6 stool motions per day

Which organism is the commonest cause of travellers’ diarrhoea?

Escherichia coli

Describe the stool typical of Campylobacter infection

Bloody diarrhoea

Describe the stool typical of Shigella infection

Bloody diarrhoea

Describe the stool typical of Vibrio cholerae (cholera) infection

‘Rice-water stool’

Describe the stool typical of typhoid

Green ‘pea-soup’ diarrhoea

Infection with Clostridium difficile typically follows which treatment therapy?

Antibiotics

What is the name of the colitis caused by Clostridium difficile?

Pseudomembranous colitis

How is the diagnosis of pseudomembranous colitis made?

Stool sample for Clostridium difficile toxin

What is an important complication of pseudomembranous colitis?

Toxic megacolon – increases risk of colonic perforation

Which organism causes amoebic dysentery?

Entamoeba histolytica

How is the diagnosis of amoebic dysentery made?

Amoebic cysts on stool microscopy