Gastroenteritis

Question 1

What is the definition of Travellers’ Diarrhoea?

Answer 1

3 loose to watery stools in 24 hours with or without one or more of the following:

• abdominal cramps
• fever
• nausea
• vomiting
• blood int he stool.

Question 2

What is the most common cause of Travellers’ Diarrhoea??

Answer 2

Escherichia coli

Question 3

Food poisoning usually happens suddenly after eating. What are the most common causes?

Answer 3

1. Staphylococcus Aureus
2. Bacillus cereus
3. Clostridium perfringens

Question 4

Common amonst travellers, watery stool and abdominal cramps and nausea.

Answer 4

Eschericia coli

Question 5

Prolonged, non-bloody diarrhoea

Answer 5

Giardiasis

Question 6

Profuse watery diarrhoea with severe dehydration resulting in weight loss.

Not common amonst travellers.

Answer 6

Cholera

Question 7

Bloody diarrhoea with vomiting and abdominal pain.

Answer 7

Shigella

Question 8

Severe vomiting with a short incubation period.

Answer 8

Staphylococcus aureus

Question 9

A flu-like prodrome is usually followed by crampy abdominal pains, fever and diarrhoea which may be bloody.

NOTE: complications of this include Guillian-Barre Syndrome.

Answer 9

Campylobacter

Question 10

Two types of illness are seen.

1/ Vomiting within 6 hours, stereotypically due to rice.

Diarrhoea illness occuring after 6 hours.

Answer 10

Bacillus cereus

Question 11

Gradual onset bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain and tenderness which may last for several weeks.

Answer 11

Amoebiasis

Question 12

What is the incubation period of staphylococcus aureus?

Answer 12

1-6 hours

Question 13

What is the incubation period of bacillus cereus?

Answer 13

1-6 hours

NOTE: the vomiting subtype will have an incubation period of 6-14 hours.

Question 14

What is the incubation period of salmonella?

Answer 14

12-48 hours.

Question 15

What is the incubation period of E. Coli?

Answer 15

12-48 hours.

Question 16

What is the incubation period of shigella?

Answer 16

48-72 hours

Question 17

What is the incubation period of campylobacter?

Answer 17

48-72 hours.

Question 18

What is the incubation period of amoebiasis?

Answer 18

> 7 days

Question 19

What is the incubation period of Giardiasis?

Answer 19

> 7 days.

Question 20

What does the BNF recommend treating invasive diarrhoea (causing bloody diarrhoea and fever) with?

Answer 20

Ciprofloxacin

Question 21

Most cases of viral or bacterial gastroenteritis do not require treatment, but in what conditions is it recommended?

Answer 21

When the patient is immunocompromised or when there is a severe infection.

Question 22

What antibiotic is used to treat non-invasive diarrhoea (non bloody and no fever) or traveller’s diarrhoea (E.coli)?

Answer 22

Clarithromycin.

Question 23

What is the bug that causes Amoebiasis?

Answer 23

Entamoeba histolytica

An amoeboid protozoan

Question 24

How is ameobiasis spread?

Answer 24

Faecal to oral route

Question 25

What percentage of the world's population are chronically infected with amoebiasis?

Answer 25

10%

Question 26

What does stool microscopy show on amoebic dysentery?

Answer 26

Trophozoites

Question 27

What is the treatment for amoebiasis?

Answer 27

Metronidazole

Question 28

What are two complications of amoebiasis?

Answer 28

Liver and colonic abscesses

Question 29

Describe how a amoebic liver abscess might present?

Answer 29

A single mass in the right lobe. Fever and RUQ pain. Serology positive \>90%