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Your search term(s) "Diarrhea" returned 62 results.

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How Do J-Pouches Work?. Ostomy Quarterly. 41(2): 49. Winter 2004.

Continent bowel diversions are made by creating internal pouches, or reservoirs. Pouches created in the pelvic area (j-pouch, pull-through) are 'reconnected' to allow the normal route of evacuation. This brief article helps readers understand how j-pouches work. The author reviews the normal physiology of the small intestine and colon to describe why the pouch is so vital (to store and concentrate stool). The author explains peristalsis (of the small intestine) and the process of elimination by gravity rather than with the muscles of the rectum. Practical toileting strategies are also provided. 1 figure.

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Neonatal Enteropathies: Defining the Causes of Protracted Diarrhea of Infancy. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 38(1): 16-26. January 2004.

This article reviews the underlying causes of chronic diarrhea beginning early in life. The authors note that infectious and post-infectious enteropathies and food sensitive or allergic enteropathy account for the majority of cases. Recent attention has focused on characterized defined entities which cause protracted diarrhea in infants and young children. Disorders of intestinal ion transport usually present at birth, following a pregnancy complicated by polyhydramnios. Intestinal mucosal biopsies show normal architect with intact villus-crypt axis. Neonatal enteropathies, by contrast, are characterized by blunting of the villi. These include microvillus inclusion disease, tufting enteropathy, autoimmune enteropathy, and IPEX syndrome. The article focuses on these four conditions. 5 figures. 1 table. 75 references.

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Acute Diarrhea in Children. Flourtown, PA: American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. 2003. 1 p.

Acute diarrhea is one of the most common illnesses in children and a common reason for doctor visits. The most common causes of acute diarrhea are viruses, bacteria and parasites, food poisoning, medications (especially antibiotics), food allergies, enzyme deficiencies (as in lactose intolerance), and toxic substances. This brief fact sheet considers acute diarrhea (defined as lasting less than one week) in children. The fact sheet defines the condition, then discusses its incidence (how common it is), the causes of the condition, diagnostic tests used to identify and confirm the problem, and treatment options. Acute diarrhea stops when the body clears the infection or toxic causing the problem. Most viruses and bacteria do not require treatment with antibiotics. If the diarrhea persists for longer than one or two weeks, stool and blood tests will help determine the most likely cause of the problem and can guide treatment strategies. Children with acute diarrhea should continue to eat their regular diet, unless the diarrhea is severe or accompanied by vomiting. In that case, replacement fluid mineral drinks are recommended. For more information, readers are encouraged to visit www.naspghan.org (the web site of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition).

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Approach to the Patient with Diarrhea. In: Textbook of Gastroenterology. 4th ed. [2-volume set]. Hagerstown, MD: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. 2003. p. 844-894.

This chapter on the approach to patients with diarrhea is from a lengthy, two-volume textbook that integrates the various demands of science, technology, expanding information, good judgment, and common sense into the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal patients. Topics include general epidemiology, general definition, pathophysiology of diarrhea, a definition of acute diarrhea, acute infectious diarrheas, prolonged infectious diarrheas, nosocomial diarrheas, runner's diarrhea, chronic diarrheas, steatorrhea (malabsorptive diseases), watery diarrheas, true secretory diarrheas, inflammatory diarrheas, the clinical evaluation of chronic diarrhea, and antidiarrheal therapy. 11 figures. 16 tables. 574 references.

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Diarrhea. In: Bonci, L. American Dietetic Association Guide to Better Digestion. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons, Inc. 2003. p. 173-183.

Coping with a gastrointestinal disorder, whether it is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gas (flatulence), constipation, heartburn, or another condition, can be embarrassing and debilitating. While medical treatments and prescriptions can offer relief, one of the most important ways patients can help themselves is in their dietary choices. This chapter on diarrhea is from a book that describes how patients can self-manage their digestive disorders through dietary choices. In this chapter, the author first defines diarrhea, then discusses the varying symptoms of the condition, diagnostic considerations, treatment options, the impact of dietary choices on diarrhea (including the BRAT diet), foods that may produce loose stools, foods that may help control diarrhea, and dietary and herbal supplements that are not used to help with digestive disorders but that may have gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea. Treatment for diarrhea is designed to decrease the frequency of bowel movements, prevent dehydration, and prevent electrolyte loss (sodium and potassium, particularly). 2 figures.

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Diarrhea: Steps to Recovery. San Bruno, CA: StayWell Company. 2003. [2 p.].

This patient education brochure describes diarrhea and its treatment. Written in nontechnical language, the brochure first defines diarrhea as bowel movements that occur more frequently or are more watery than usual. Symptoms of diarrhea include looser, more watery stools than normal, more frequent stools than normal, more urgent need to pass stool, and pain or spasms in the digestive tract. Things that may irritate the digestive tract and lead to diarrhea include harmful bacteria or viruses or medications. Certain foods can cause diarrhea in some people; stress and anxiety can lead to diarrhea in others. Diagnosis will include the patient's medical history and some diagnostic tests such as stool sample testing and sigmoidoscopy. Treatment of the diarrhea depends on its cause. Diarrhea caused by infection needs to be treated by eradicating the underlying infection. Other treatment options can include an increase in drinking fluids, prescription medications, fasting, and following the BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) diet. The brochure reminds readers to contact their health care provider if they have severe pain, high fever or bloody stool, or symptoms of dehydration. One section of the brochure illustrates and describes the physiology of normal bowel movements and what happens in diarrhea. The last page of the brochure summarizes the recommendations for recovering from diarrhea. The brochure is illustrated with full color line drawings. 6 figures.

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Small Intestine: Infections with Common Bacterial and Viral Pathogens. In: Textbook of Gastroenterology. 4th ed. [2-volume set]. Hagerstown, MD: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. 2003. p. 1530-1560.

This chapter on infections of the small intestine is from a lengthy, two-volume textbook that integrates the various demands of science, technology, expanding information, good judgment, and common sense into the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal patients. In this chapter, the authors focus on the major bacterial and viral pathogens that infect the small intestine. Whether by toxin-mediated effects or direct destruction of intestinal epithelial cells, these microbial pathogens have devised ways to disrupt the normal fluid handling capabilities of the intestinal tract and cause diarrhea. In general, the diarrhea caused by infection with a small bowel pathogen is characterized by high-volume, less frequent bowel movements, whereas lower-volume and more frequent bowel movements are associated with colonic diarrhea. Topics covered include food poisoning and common source outbreaks, traveler's diarrhea, bacterial infection, viral pathogens, and therapeutic considerations. Specific organisms discussed include Clostridium perfringens, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Yersinia, Vibrio (including Vibrio cholera), Aeromonas, Plesiomonas, Edwardsiella, rotavirus, Norwalk and Norwalk-like caliciviruses, astrovirus, and enteric adenovirus. Treatment options discussed include oral rehydration therapy (ORT), antimicrobial therapy, antidiarrheal drugs, and enteric vaccines. 5 tables. 368 references.

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Acute Diarrhea in Adults. In: Edmundowicz, S.A., ed. 20 Common Problems in Gastroenterology. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, Inc. 2002. p. 159-176.

Acute diarrhea is an increase in stool liquidity or a decrease in consistency, often associated with an increase in stool frequency and volume compared with the patient's usual bowel habits. Diarrhea persisting beyond 4 weeks is regarded as chronic. This chapter on acute diarrhea in adults is from a book that focuses on the most common gastroenterological problems encountered in a primary practice setting. The chapter is organized to support rapid access to the information necessary to evaluate and treat most patients with this problems. Topics include definition and epidemiology; the general approach to patients with acute diarrhea; key history and physical examination points; ancillary tests, including stool examination, stool ova (eggs) and parasite examination; infectious agents, including viral diarrheas, bacterial diarrhea, toxin-induced diarrhea, inflammatory diarrhea due to invasive organisms, parasitic diseases, hospital-acquired diarrhea, traveler's diarrhea, diarrhea in the immunocompromised host, medications as a cause of diarrhea, idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diarrhea in runners, alcohol-induced diarrhea, and the emergence of new diarrheal syndromes and pathogens; patient management, including fluid and electrolyte replacement and food restriction; medications, including adsorbents, antimotility agents, antimicrobials, and antiemetics; patient education; and emerging concepts and controversies. The chapter includes an outline for quick reference, the text itself, a diagnostic and treatment algorithm, and selected references. 1 figure. 9 tables. 25 references.

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Bacterial Food Poisoning. Practical Gastroenterology. 26(10): 14-15, 19-20, 23. October 2002.

Despite the advances of modern civilization, food poisoning still remains a common cause of gastrointestinal illness, with an estimated 76 million persons annually experiencing foodborne illness in the United States. This article reviews the current thinking on bacterial food poisoning. The authors note that the two basic mechanisms in which illness can be transmitted through food are through a bacterial toxin or through bacterial invasion. These can result in either symptoms of nausea and vomiting or a diarrhea-predominant illness. The authors present and discuss brief vignettes, including a nausea and vomiting case and a diarrhea and dysentery case; and then discuss the differences in blood and non-bloody diarrheal syndromes. The authors conclude that most cases of foodborne illness are never reported to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and are usually treated by primary care physicians. Most cases are self-limited and do not require antimicrobial therapy. 1 figure. 10 references.

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Budesonide Treatment for Collagenous Colitis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Trial. Gastroenterology. 123(4): 978-984. October 2002.

Collagenous colitis is an idiopathic (of unknown cause) microscopic colitis characterized by chronic watery diarrhea, a typical subepithelial collagen layer, and lymphoplasmacellular infiltration. This article reports on a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study that investigated the effect of budesonide on symptoms and histology in patients with collagenous colitis. Patients with chronic diarrhea and histologically proven collagenous colitis were randomized to receive either oral budesonide 9 milligrams per day for 6 weeks, or placebo; 45 patients were available for per protocol analysis. The rate of clinical remission was significantly higher in the budesonide group than in the placebo group. Histologic improvement was observed in 14 patients of the budesonide group (60. 9 percent) and in 1 patient of the placebo group (4.5 percent). Two patients in the budesonide group (7.7 percent) and 1 patient in the placebo group (4.0 percent) discontinued treatment prematurely because of side effects. The authors conclude that oral budesonide (Entocort capsules) is an effective and safe treatment modality for patients with collagenous colitis. Long-term follow up of these patients is necessary to investigate whether clinical and histologic remission is sustained. 2 figures. 5 tables. 34 references.

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