Chapter 15 ACUTE DIARRHOEA
• Acute infectious diarrhoea is common worldwide and is responsible for significant patient hospitalisation and mortality.
• Acute diarrhoea is defined as an increase of stool frequency (greater than three stools per day or at least 200 g of stool per day) lasting less than 14 days.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
The symptoms of acute diarrhoea vary according to the portion of the intestine that is involved in the disease process. Infectious diarrhoea is often associated with symptoms of nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.
AETIOLOGY
Infectious and non-infectious causes may be responsible for acute diarrhoea (Table 15.1).
Bacteria |