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

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Medication Induced Constipation And Diarrhea. Practical Gastroenterology. 32(5): 12-28. May 2008.

This article reviews the problems of constipation and diarrhea that occur as a side effect of medication use. The authors note that medication-induced constipation and diarrhea are frequent side effects that contribute to the costs of health care for evaluation and management and also contribute to patient morbidity. The diagnosis is often delayed due to poor association of symptom onset with the use of a medication. The authors define constipation; discuss its epidemiology, economic impact, and risk factors; consider diagnostic and treatment issues; and discuss the treatment of constipation in the setting of chronic opioid use. The next section covers the definition and mechanisms of medication-induced diarrhea, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, diarrhea associated with protease inhibitors, and chemotherapy-induced diarrhea. The authors conclude by encouraging health care providers to have a high index of suspicion when patients present with constipation or diarrhea and to obtain a detailed medication history of all medications taken in the past 2 months; this approach can avoid multiple diagnostic tests. High-risk patient populations for medication-induced diarrhea or constipation include the elderly, nursing home or long-term care residents, patients with chronic pain, those with prolonged hospitalization, and those being treated with broad spectrum antibiotics. 3 figures. 2 tables. 35 references.

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BRAT Diet for Acute Diarrhea in Children: Should It Be Used?. Practical Gastroenterology. 31(6): 60, 65-68. June 2007.

This article considers the use of one type of diet often prescribed during acute diarrhea in children, the BRAT diet, which consists of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (or tea). The authors note that although many studies support the importance of enteral nutrition in recovery from diarrhea, there are few data concerning the effectiveness of specific food types. They review the limited data that address the safety and efficacy of diets with bananas, rice, and other dietary components in treating diarrhea. In addition, they review the nutritional content of this restrictive diet and find it lacking in energy, fat, and several micronutrients. The selection of a single type of restrictive diet, such as the BRAT diet, during diarrhea can impair nutritional recovery and lead to severe malnutrition. They conclude that prompt feeding during an acute episode of diarrhea and avoiding unnecessarily restrictive diets is the recommended dietary therapy during acute diarrhea. 1 figure. 1 table. 22 references.

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Constipation, Diarrhea, Hemorrhoids and Fecal Incontinence. IN: Pregnancy in Gastrointestinal Disorders. 2nd ed. Bethesda, MD: American College of Gastroenterology. 2007. pp 4-9.

This chapter about constipation, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and fecal incontinence is from a monograph that presents updated information about pregnancy in women with gastrointestinal disorders. The authors note that the pathophysiology of these common alterations in bowel patterns may be specific to hormonal and structural changes that occur during pregnancy and as a result of delivery. The chapter focuses on bringing readers up to date on the research in the area covered, the recommended treatments, and patient management concerns, notably issues of maternal and fetal safety. Specific topics include drug therapy, the use of dietary and behavioral modification to manage constipation, the etiology of diarrhea during pregnancy, oral rehydration for acute diarrhea, symptoms of hemorrhoids, the use of surgical hemorrhoidectomy, problems with diagnosing fecal incontinence, and treatment for fecal incontinence. The authors conclude that disturbances in bowel function are common in pregnancy and are often responsive to conservative medical therapy. 3 tables. 20 references.

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Diarrhea. Bethesda, MD: National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. 2007. 6 p.

Diarrhea is defined as loose, watery stools. A person with diarrhea typically passes stool more than three times a day. Acute diarrhea is a common problem that usually lasts 1 or 2 days and goes away on its own without special treatment. Prolonged diarrhea persisting for more than 2 days may be a sign of a more serious problem and poses the risk of dehydration. This fact sheet describes the causes of diarrhea, associated symptoms, diarrhea in children, the signs of dehydration, how to know when to contact a health care provider regarding diarrhea, diagnostic tests that may be used to help find the cause of the diarrhea, treatment options, and current research efforts in this area. Treatment for diarrhea involves replacing lost fluid and electrolytes. Depending on the cause of the problem, a person might also need medication to stop the diarrhea or to treat an infection. One sidebar offers suggestions for preventing traveler's diarrhea when traveling outside of the United States. The contact information for two resource organizations is provided: the American Gastroenterological Association and the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. The fact sheet concludes with a brief description of the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.

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Managing Bowel Dysfunction. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. June 2007. 20 p.

This patient education fact sheet reviews the management of bowel dysfunction, defined as problems with the frequency, consistence, and/or ability to control the bowel movements. People may have trouble with their bowel movements due to many factors including medications, diseases or treatments for diseases, stress, or a change in eating or exercise patterns. The fact sheet reviews the physiology of the male and female digestive systems, normal bowel function, and the diagnosis of bowel problems with laboratory tests, radiologic or ultrasonic examination, special procedures, and fecal occult blood sampling. The fact sheet describes the causes, treatment, and prevention of bowel dysfunctions, including constipation, diarrhea, and fecal incontinence. A section considers specialized surgical procedures for bowel dysfunctions, including colostomy or ileostomy. Practical tips and strategies for everyday activities, meal planning, skin care, and exercise are provided; three sample menus are included. The fact sheet concludes with a brief glossary of relevant terms. 5 figures. 3 tables.

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MNT for Clostridium Difficile Disease. Today’s Dietitian. 9(9): 38-40. September 2007.

This article explores the use of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) disease, a bacterial infection that causes diarrhea and other more serious intestinal conditions including colitis. C. difficile can be acquired from a carrier and spread through direct or indirect contact with contaminated surfaces or airborne spores; individuals taking antibiotics are particularly at risk of becoming infected. In most cases, treatment of C. difficile infections requires discontinuing the problematic antibiotic along with administration of fluids and electrolytes. Relapse and recurrence are relatively common and can be more severe than the original infection. The author focuses on the use of diet strategies to help treat and manage C. difficile infections, including small frequent feedings with fluids between meals and replacement of electrolytes by including high-sodium soups and fruits juices. The author includes a section about recommended prevention strategies such as careful use of antibiotics, stringent handwashing policies, careful isolation of patients already infected with C. difficile, and disinfection of any objects that may be contaminated. A final section of the article considers the use of probiotics and prebiotics; probiotics are bacteria intended to assist the body’s naturally occurring gut flora in reestablishing themselves. 5 references.

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Post infectious Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Clinical Aspects, Pathophysiology, And Treatment. Practical Gastroenterology. 31(9 Suppl): 18-24. September 2007.

This article on postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) is from a special supplement issue of Practical Gastroenterology on the topic of IBS. The supplement reports on the proceedings of a meeting in September 2005 of a group of gastroenterologists who gathered to develop a shared understanding of the data regarding the role of intestinal bacteria in IBS. IBS is characterized by bloating, abdominal pain, flatulence, and altered bowel function, including diarrhea and constipation. In this article, the author focuses on the clinical aspects, pathophysiology, and treatment of PI-IBS, which is defined as new onset of IBS after an acute episode of infectious diarrhea. The author hypothesizes that chronic mucosal inflammation, immunologic changes, and biochemical alterations triggered by microbial infection may be involved in mechanisms leading to persistent intestinal symptoms. The differential diagnosis of PI-IBS involves ruling out other conditions that may cause prolonged diarrhea, including persistent enteric infection, co-infection, and malabsorption or food intolerance. Treatment often focuses on symptom relief, but the prevention and early treatment of acute bacterial illness with antimicrobials such as rifaximin may be important for reducing the risk of PI-IBS development, particularly in international travelers. 4 tables. 39 references.

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Rifaximin as Acute Therapy and Maintenance Treatment for Functional Gastrointestinal Symptoms. Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 3(1): 9. January 2007.

This article is from a continuing education supplement that offers case studies that demonstrate the potential use of antibiotic therapy in the management of patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders. The cases provide examples of the pathogenic role of bacteria in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and suggest that treatment strategies that affect gut bacteria and the respective host responses to these pathogens might alleviate symptoms in patients with functional gastrointestinal symptoms. This article describes the case of a 55-year-old Caucasian woman who presented with a 10-year history of functional gastrointestinal symptoms, including mild diarrhea, severe constipation, abdominal pain, bloating, and gas. Symptoms were exacerbated by certain carbohydrates and alleviated only by not eating. A diagnosis of Rome II-positive, alternating-form irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) was determined. Based on clinical symptoms, the patient was administered oral rifaximin 400 milligrams twice daily for 10 days. Following completion of rifaximin treatment, probiotic therapy and tegaserod 2 milligrams daily were administered as maintenance therapy. At 3 months follow-up, the patient had not experienced symptom recurrence. The author briefly discusses the implications of this case study. 4 references.

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Rifaximin: Recent Advances in Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 3(6): 474-483. June 2007.

This article reviews data that have been presented at medical meetings or published in medical journals since the publication of a 2006 review of rifaximin in this journal. Rifaximin is an antibiotic that was initially developed to treat bacteria-related diarrhea, but its uses have increased as the understanding of the role of enteric bacteria has advanced. The author presents data that suggest rifaximin may be useful in several enteric conditions, including Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, cryptosporidial diarrhea, Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), pouchitis, traveler’s diarrhea, diverticular disease, hepatic encephalopathy, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and irritable bowel syndrome. For each condition, the author reviews the related research, focusing on administration and dosage, as well as patient selection. The author concludes that rifaximin may be beneficial as monotherapy or in combination with other agents for the treatment of multiple enteric conditions. 2 figures. 5 tables. 72 references.

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Understanding Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Baltimore, MD: AGA Institute. 2007. 4 p.

This brochure from the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) provides an overview of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a common disorder of the intestine that leads to crampy pain, gassiness, bloating, and changes in bowel habits, including constipation and diarrhea. The brochure reviews the lifestyle impact of IBS and outlines the causes and triggers of the condition, which can include problems with colonic motility, an oversensitive gastrointestinal tract, certain foods, hormones associated with the menstrual cycle, and emotional conflict or stress. The brochure describes how IBS is diagnosed, the relationship between IBS and more serious problems, and treatment options, including the role of a healthy diet, dietary fiber, small meals, and the role of medicines in relieving IBS symptoms. Another section explores the interplay between diet, stress, and IBS. A final section summarizes the basic information presented in the brochure. One illustration presents the organs of the digestive system labeled in a simple line drawing. Readers are referred to the AGA website at www.gastro.org/patient for more information about digestive health and to find a local AGA member physician. 6 figures.

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