Diarrhea is a condition caused by either bacteria that leads to the passage of 1 or 2 more stools per the age.

1. Cuttington University
Suakoko, Bong County
Fundamentals of Medicine II Group Presentation
Julia B. Morris …………………………………………… 219655
Platon S. Plakar, Jr. ……………………………………... 219353
Wangar Momo ………………………………………………
Famata Varney …………………………………………..
Fatu M. Kamara …………………………………………
Naomi M. Porkpah …………………………………………
Stephen O. Malayea …………………………………………
Ma-watta Toure ……………………………………………
J. Lepolu Torlon Jr. ……………………......................... 219659
Josiah P. Saye ………………………………………………...
Janjay J.M. Blaye ……………………………………………
Henry Sumo ….. …………………………………………

2. INTRODUCTION:
 DIARRHEA IS DERIVED FROM THE GREEK
WORD, MEANING ‘FLOWING THROUGH.’ IT’S
THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN
CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS OLD.
DEFINITION:
WHAT IS DIARRHEA?
ACCORDING TO THE WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION (WHO), DIARRHEA IS ‘PASSAGE OF
3 OR MORE LOOSE STOOLS PER DAY OR PASSING
MORE STOOLS THAN THE AGE.’

3. EPIDEMIOLOGY
INCIDENCE
 EVERY YEAR THERE ARE ABOUT 1.5 TO 2 BILLION
DEATH RATE OF DIARRHEA DISEASES OCCURS.
DIARRHEA IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF
CHILD MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY IN THE WORLD.
 ONE IN 5 CHILDREN DIE OF DIARRHEA EVERY YEAR
IN INDIA. IT MOSTLY DUE TO CONTAMINATED FOOD
AND WATER SOURCES.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION
THE INFECTION IS SPREAD THROUGH HANDSHAKE WITH
THE INFECTION, CONTAMINATED FOOD OR DRINKING-
WATER, OF POOR HYGIENE.

4. CLASSIFICATION OF DIARRHEA
 SHORT-TERM (ACUTE). DIARRHEA THAT LASTS 1 OR 2
DAYS AND GOES AWAY. THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY
HAVING FOOD OR WATER THAT WAS MADE UNSAFE BY
A BACTERIAL INFECTION. OR IT MAY HAPPEN IF YOU
GET SICK FROM A VIRUS.
 LONG-TERM (CHRONIC). DIARRHEA THAT LASTS
SEVERAL WEEKS. THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY ANOTHER
HEALTH PROBLEM SUCH AS IRRITABLE BOWEL
SYNDROME. IT CAN ALSO BE CAUSED BY AN
DISEASE SUCH AS CROHN’S DISEASE OR CELIAC
DISEASE. SOME INFECTIONS SUCH AS PARASITES CAN
CAUSE CHRONIC DIARRHEA.

5. CLINICAL FEATURES
CLINICAL FEATURE OF DIARRHEA DEPENDS ON ITS SEVERITY:
 MILD DIARRHEA (2 -5 LOOSE STOOL)
 MODERATE DIARRHEA (10 OR MORE LOOSE
STOOL)
 SEVERE DIARRHEA (100 LOOSE STOOL WITHIN 24
HOURS)

6. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DIARRHEA?
EACH PERSON’S SYMPTOMS MAY VARY. SYMPTOMS OF DIARRHEA MAY
INCLUDE:
 BELLY (ABDOMINAL) CRAMPS
 STOMACH PAIN
 SWELLING (BLOATING)
 UPSET STOMACH (NAUSEA)
 URGENT NEED TO GO TO THE BATHROOM
 FEVER
 BLOODY STOOLS
 LOSS OF BODY FLUIDS (DEHYDRATION)
 LEAKING STOOL AND NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL YOUR BOWELS
(INCONTINENCE)

7. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
DEHYDRATION IS A SERIOUS SIDE EFFECT OF
DIARRHEA. IT MIGHT LEAD TO LOSS OF FLUID IN THE
BODY LEADING TO CONDITION CALLED
“HYPOVOLUMIA.” OTHER SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:
 FEELING THIRSTY
 NOT URINATING AS OFTEN
 HAVING DRY SKIN AS WELL AS A DRY MOUTH AND NOSTRILS
(MUCOUS MEMBRANES)
 FEELING VERY TIRED
 FEELING THAT YOU MAY PASS OUT OR FAINT (LIGHTHEADED)
 HEADACHES
 FAST HEART RATE
 SUNKEN FONTANELLE (SOFT SPOT) ON BABY'S HEAD

8. ETIOLOGY
WHAT CAUSES DIARRHEA?
DIARRHEA MAY BE CAUSED BY MANY THINGS, INCLUDING:
 A BACTERIAL INFECTION (CAMPYLOBACTER LINK, ESCHERICHIA COLI
LINK OR E.COLI, SALMONELLA LINK, AND SHIGELLA LINK)
 A VIRUS, TROUBLE DIGESTING CERTAIN THINGS (FOOD
INTOLERANCE)
 FOOD ALLERGY (SUCH AS CELIAC DISEASE, GLUTEN ALLERGY)
 PARASITES THAT ENTER THE BODY THROUGH FOOD OR WATER, A
REACTION TO MEDICINES
 DRUGS
 DIETARY CAUSES
 SURGICAL CONDITIONS
 MISCELLANEOUS CAUSES

9. DIAGNOSES
A DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION IS PERFORMED FOR
PATIENTS PRESENTED WITH SYMPTOMS OF
DIARRHEA.
 HISTORY TAKING
 PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
 STOOL EXAMINATION
 STOOL CULTURE
 BLOOD TEST

10. HOW IS DIARRHEA DIAGNOSED?
 STOOL STUDIES INCLUDING CULTURE AND OTHER TESTS.
THIS TEST CHECKS FOR ANY ABNORMAL BACTERIA IN YOUR DIGESTIVE TRACT THAT
MAY CAUSE DIARRHEA AND OTHER PROBLEMS. TO DO THIS, A SMALL STOOL SAMPLE IS
TAKEN AND SENT TO A LAB.
 SIGMOIDOSCOPY.
THIS TEST LETS YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER CHECK THE INSIDE OF PART OF YOUR
LARGE INTESTINE. IT HELPS TO TELL WHAT IS CAUSING DIARRHEA. A SH ORT, FLEXIBLE,
LIGHTED TUBE (SIGMOIDOSCOPE) IS PUT INTO YOUR INTESTINE THROUGH THE
RECTUM. THIS TUBE BLOWS AIR INTO YOUR INTESTINE TO MAKE IT SWELL . THIS MAKES
IT EASIER TO SEE INSIDE. A BIOPSY CAN BE TAKEN IF NEEDED.
 COLONOSCOPY.
THIS TEST LOOKS AT THE FULL LENGTH OF YOUR LARGE INTESTINE. IT CAN HELP CHECK
FOR ANY ABNORMAL GROWTHS, TISSUE THAT IS RED OR SWOLLEN, SORES (ULCERS),
OR BLEEDING. A LONG, FLEXIBLE, LIGHTED TUBE (COLONOSCOPE) IS PUT INTO YOUR
RECTUM UP INTO THE COLON. THIS TUBE LETS YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER SEE THE
LINING OF YOUR COLON AND TAKE OUT A TISSUE SAMPLE (BIOPSY) TO TEST IT.

11. HOW IS DIARRHEA DIAGNOSED CONT…?
IMAGING TESTS.
 THESE TESTS CAN SEE IF THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE WAY
YOUR ORGANS ARE FORMED (STRUCTURAL ABNORMALITIES).
FASTING TESTS.
 THESE TESTS SHOW IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO DIGEST CERTAIN FOODS
(FOOD INTOLERANCE). THEY CAN ALSO TELL IF CERTAIN FOODS
BRING ON AN IMMUNE SYSTEM REACTION (FOOD ALLERGY).
BLOOD TESTS.
 THESE CAN LOOK FOR METABOLIC PROBLEMS LIKE THYROID
DISEASE, ANEMIA (LOW BLOOD COUNT), EVIDENCE OF LOW
LEVELS SUGGESTING POOR ABSORPTION, AND CELIAC DISEASE,
AMONG OTHER THINGS.

12. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES
 APPENDICITIS
 GIARDIASIS
 GLUCOSE-GALACTOSE MALABSORPTION
 INTESTINAL ENTEROKINASE DEFICIENCY
 INTESTINAL PROTOZOAL DISEASES
 PEDIATRIC CROHN DISEASE
 PEDIATRIC HYPERTHYROIDISM
 PEDIATRIC IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS)
 SHIGELLA INFECTION
 SINO NASAL MANIFESTATIONS OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS
 ULCERATIVE COLITIS IMAGING

13. MANAGEMENT / TREATMENT
MANAGEMENT OF INFANT AND YOUNG
CHILDREN WITH DIARRHEA AND
DEHYDRATION FOCUS ON:
 REPLACEMENT OF THE FLUIDS LOST
 ADMINISTRATION OF PRESCRIBED DRUGS
 MAINTENANCE OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS
 EDUCATE THE MOTHER REGARDING
PREVENTION OF DIARRHEA

14. Conclusion
 Diarrhea is a leading cause of death rate in children under 5 years old; and the second
leading cause of child mortality and morbidity in the world which
results mostly from eating or drinking contaminated food and
water. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that about
1.5 to 2 billion death rate of diarrhea diseases occurs every year
causing serious death rate in the world.

15. Recommendation
In order to lower/reduce the incidence rate
of diarrhea, we recommend that all
necessary preventive measures be put in
place by each and everyone. i.e. (washing
hands, drinking clean water, washing foods
properly before eating etc.)

16. Source:
What is Diarrhea?
www.hopkinsmedicince.org

17. THANK YOU!
WE WILL ENTERTAIN
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.