Acute diarrhea medical therapy: Difference between revisions

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* Fluid and electrolyte resuscitation (oral, if not IV):
* Fluid and electrolyte resuscitation (oral, if not IV):
* Oral sugar-electrolyte solutions help in the limitation of diarrhea
* Oral sugar-electrolyte solutions help in the limitation of diarrhea
* In case of profound dehydration, especially in the elderly and infants, IV rehydartion is preferred
* Patients should be advised to do the following until symptoms subside:
* Patients should be advised to do the following until symptoms subside:
** Hydrate with liquids that are [[caffeine]] free and contain [[glucose]]
** Hydrate with liquids that are [[caffeine]] free and contain [[glucose]]
Line 71: Line 72:
** Fluoroquinolone for enteric bacterial diarrhea  
** Fluoroquinolone for enteric bacterial diarrhea  


* Most cases of diarrhea, except for high-volume secretory states, respond to a sufficiently high dose of [[opium]] or [[morphine]].  [[Codeine]], synthetic opioids [[diphenoxylate]] and [[loperamide]] are less potent. However loperamide is generally used because of its less abuse potential.
* In case of nonbloody diarrhea in patients, antimotility agents such as [[diphenoxylate]] and [[loperamide]] are preferred in patients. Loperamide is generally used in patients due to low abuse potential.


* The somatostatin analogue [[octreotide]] has proven effectiveness in [[carcinoid tumors]] and other peptide-secreting tumors, dumping syndrome, and chemotherapy-induced diarrhea.
* Octreotide, the somatostatin analogue is useful in cases of diarrhea due to:
** Carcinoid tumors  
** Peptide-secreting tumors  
** Dumping syndrome  
** Chemotherapy-induced diarrhea  


* Intraluminal agents include adsorbants, such as activated charcoal, and binding resins like [[bismuth]] and stool modifiers, such as medicinal fiber.
* Intraluminal agents include:
** Adsorbants: activated charcoal
** Binding resins: Bismuth subsalicylate is used to reduce diarrhea and vomitting, but is used with caution in patients with renal dysfunction due to high risk of bismuth encephalopathy
** Stool modifiers: Medicinal fiber


===Pharmacotherapy===
===Pharmacotherapy===
* [[Antibiotics]] (malabsorption diseases)
Pharmacotherapy for acute diarrhea includes the following agents:
* [[Anticholinergics]] (IBS)
* [[Antibiotics]]  
* Antimolality agents
* [[Anticholinergics]]  
* Antibiotic therapy (severe disease)
* Antimotility agents
* [[Metoclopramide]] (diabetic neuropathy)
* [[Metoclopramide]]: in case of diarrhea due to diabetic neuropathy
* Nonspecific antidiarrheal agents
* Nonspecific antidiarrheal agents


===Symptomatic Treatment===
===Symptomatic Treatment===
* Symptomatic treatment for diarrhea involves the patient consuming adequate amounts of water to replace that loss, preferably mixed with [[electrolyte]]s to provide essential [[salt]]s and some amount of [[nutrient]]s. For many people, further treatment is unnecessary.
* Symptomatic treatment for diarrhea includes consumption of adequate amounts of water, mixed with electrolytes to replace water and salt depletion. In many cases, further treatment is not required.
* The following types of diarrhea indicate medical supervision is required:
* The following types of diarrhea indicate medical supervision is required:
** Diarrhea in infants;
** Diarrhea in infants
** Moderate or severe diarrhea in young children;
** Moderate or severe diarrhea in young children
** Diarrhea associated with [[blood]];
** Bloody diarrhea
** Diarrhea that continues for more than two weeks;
** Diarrhea for more than two weeks
** Diarrhea that is associated with more general illness such as non-cramping [[abdominal pain]], [[fever]], [[weight loss]], etc;
** Diarrhea associated with non-cramping [[abdominal pain]], [[fever]] and [[weight loss]]
** [[Traveler's diarrhea|Diarrhea in travelers]], since they are more likely to have exotic infections such as parasites;
** Parasitic diarrhea  
** Diarrhea in food handlers, because of the potential to infect others;
** Diarrhea in food handlers due to high potential to infect others
** Diarrhea in institutions such as hospitals, child care centers, or geriatric and convalescent homes.
** Diarrhea in institutions such as:
 
*** Hospitals
A severity score is used to aid diagnosis.<ref name="pmid2371542">{{cite journal |author=Ruuska T, Vesikari T |title=Rotavirus disease in Finnish children: use of numerical scores for clinical severity of diarrhoeal episodes |journal=Scand. J. Infect. Dis. |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=259–67 |year=1990 |pmid=2371542 |doi=}}</ref>
*** Child care centers
*** Geriatric andconvalescent homes


===Pathogen Specific===
===Pathogen Specific===

Revision as of 15:06, 5 February 2018

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:

Overview

There is no treatment for [disease name]; the mainstay of therapy is supportive care.

OR

Supportive therapy for [disease name] includes [therapy 1], [therapy 2], and [therapy 3].

OR

The majority of cases of [disease name] are self-limited and require only supportive care.

OR

[Disease name] is a medical emergency and requires prompt treatment.

OR

The mainstay of treatment for [disease name] is [therapy].

OR   The optimal therapy for [malignancy name] depends on the stage at diagnosis.

OR

[Therapy] is recommended among all patients who develop [disease name].

OR

Pharmacologic medical therapy is recommended among patients with [disease subclass 1], [disease subclass 2], and [disease subclass 3].

OR

Pharmacologic medical therapies for [disease name] include (either) [therapy 1], [therapy 2], and/or [therapy 3].

OR

Empiric therapy for [disease name] depends on [disease factor 1] and [disease factor 2].

OR

Patients with [disease subclass 1] are treated with [therapy 1], whereas patients with [disease subclass 2] are treated with [therapy 2].

Medical Therapy

The medical management of acute diarrhea includes the following steps:

  • Fluid and electrolyte resuscitation (oral, if not IV):
  • Oral sugar-electrolyte solutions help in the limitation of diarrhea
  • In case of profound dehydration, especially in the elderly and infants, IV rehydartion is preferred
  • Patients should be advised to do the following until symptoms subside:
  • For patients with lactose intolerance, a lactose-free diet is advised
  • For patients with malabsorption diseases, a gluten free diet is advised
  • Consultation with oncology, surgery and/or gastroenterology may be required for intestinal neoplasm
  • Blood sugar control is advised in case of diarrhea due to diabetic neuropathy

Empiric Therapy

Empiric therapy is used in the following situations:

  • As an initial treatment before diagnostic testing
  • After diagnostic testing has failed to confirm a diagnosis
  • When there is no specific treatment
  • When specific treatment fails to effect a cure
  • Empiric trials of antimicrobial therapy is administered if the prevalence of bacterial or protozoal infection is high in a specific community or situation:
    • Metronidazole for protozoal diarrhea
    • Fluoroquinolone for enteric bacterial diarrhea
  • In case of nonbloody diarrhea in patients, antimotility agents such as diphenoxylate and loperamide are preferred in patients. Loperamide is generally used in patients due to low abuse potential.
  • Octreotide, the somatostatin analogue is useful in cases of diarrhea due to:
    • Carcinoid tumors
    • Peptide-secreting tumors
    • Dumping syndrome
    • Chemotherapy-induced diarrhea
  • Intraluminal agents include:
    • Adsorbants: activated charcoal
    • Binding resins: Bismuth subsalicylate is used to reduce diarrhea and vomitting, but is used with caution in patients with renal dysfunction due to high risk of bismuth encephalopathy
    • Stool modifiers: Medicinal fiber

Pharmacotherapy

Pharmacotherapy for acute diarrhea includes the following agents:

Symptomatic Treatment

  • Symptomatic treatment for diarrhea includes consumption of adequate amounts of water, mixed with electrolytes to replace water and salt depletion. In many cases, further treatment is not required.
  • The following types of diarrhea indicate medical supervision is required:
    • Diarrhea in infants
    • Moderate or severe diarrhea in young children
    • Bloody diarrhea
    • Diarrhea for more than two weeks
    • Diarrhea associated with non-cramping abdominal pain, fever and weight loss
    • Parasitic diarrhea
    • Diarrhea in food handlers due to high potential to infect others
    • Diarrhea in institutions such as:
      • Hospitals
      • Child care centers
      • Geriatric andconvalescent homes

Pathogen Specific

Immunocompetent

  • 1. Shigella species
  • Preferred regimen (1):
  • Preferred regimen (2):
  • 2. Non-typhi species of Salmonella
  • Preferred regimen: Not recommended routinely, but if severe or patient is younger than 6 monthes or older than 50 year old or has prostheses, valvular heart disease, severe atherosclerosis, malignancy, or uremia, TMP-SMZ (if susceptible) OR Fluoroquinolone, bid for 5 to 7 days; Ceftriaxone, 100 mg/kg/d in 1 or 2 divided doses
  • 3. Campylobacter species
  • 4. Escherichia coli species
  • 4.1. Enterotoxigenic
  • 4.2. Enteropathogenic
  • 4.3. Enteroinvasive
  • 4.4. Enterohemorrhagic
  • Preferred regimen: Avoid antimotility drugs; role of antibiotics unclear, and administration should be avoided.
  • 5. Aeromonas/Plesiomonas
  • 6. Yersinia species
  • 7. Vibrio cholerae O1 or O139
  • Preferred regimen (1): Doxycycline 300-mg single dose
  • Preferred regimen (2): Tetracycline 500 mg qid for 3 days
  • Preferred regimen (3): TMP-SMZ 160 and 800 mg, respectively, bid for 3 days
  • Preferred regimen (4): single-dose Fluoroquinolone
  • 8. Toxigenic Clostridium difficile
  • Preferred regimen: Offending antibiotic should be withdrawn if possible; Metronidazole, 250 mg qid to 500 mg tid for 3 to 10 days
  • 1. Giardia
  • 2. Cryptosporidium species
  • Preferred regimen: If severe, consider Paromomycin, 500 mg tid for 7 days
  • 3. Isospora species
  • Preferred regimen: TMP-SMZ, 160 and 800 mg, respectively, bid for 7 to 10 days
  • 4. Cyclospora species
  • Preferred regimen: TMP/SMZ, 160 and 800 mg, respectively, bid for 7 days
  • 5. Microsporidium species
  • Preferred regimen: Not determined
  • 6. Entamoeba histolytica

Immunocompromised

  • 1. Shigella species:
  • Preferred regimen (1):
  • Preferred regimen (2):
  • 2. Non-typhi species of Salmonella
  • Preferred regimen: Not recommended routinely, but if severe or patient is younger than 6 monthes or older than 50 old or has prostheses, valvular heart disease, severe atherosclerosis, malignancy, or uremia, TMP-SMZ (if susceptible) OR Fluoroquinolone, bid for 14 days (or longer if relapsing); ceftriaxone, 100 mg/kg/d in 1 or 2 divided doses
  • 3. Campylobacter species
  • Preferred regimen: Erythromycin, 500 mg bid for 5 days (may require prolonged treatment)
  • 4. Escherichia coli species
  • 4.1. Enterotoxigenic
  • 4.2. Enteropathogenic
  • 4.3. Enteroinvasive
  • 4.4. Enterohemorrhagic
  • Preferred regimen: Avoid antimotility drugs; role of antibiotics unclear, and administration should be avoided.
  • 5. Aeromonas/Plesiomonas
  • 6. Yersinia species
  • 7. Vibrio cholerae O1 or O139
  • 8. Toxigenic Clostridium difficile
  • Preferred regimen: Offending antibiotic should be withdrawn if possible; Metronidazole, 250 mg qid to 500 mg tid for 3 to 10 days
  • 1. Giardia
  • 2. Cryptosporidium species
  • Preferred regimen: Paromomycin, 500 mg tid for 14 to 28 days, then bid if needed; highly active antiretroviral therapy including a protease inhibitor is warranted for patients with AIDS
  • 3. Isospora species
  • Preferred regimen: TMP-SMZ, 160 and 800 mg, respectively, qid for 10 days, followed by TMP-SMZ thrice weekly, or weekly Sulfadoxine (500 mg) and Pyrimethamine (25 mg) indefinitely for patients with AIDS
  • 4. Cyclospora species
  • Preferred regimen: TMP-SMZ, 160 and 800 mg, respectively, qid for 10 days, followed by TMP-SMZ thrice weekly indefinitely
  • 5. Microsporidium species
  • Preferred regimen: Albendazole, 400 mg bid for 3 weeks; highly active antiretroviral therapy including a protease inhibitor is warranted for patients with AIDS
  • 6. Entamoeba histolytica

Contraindicated medications

Diarrhea is considered an absolute contraindication to the use of the following medications:

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Guerrant RL, Van Gilder T, Steiner TS, Thielman NM, Slutsker L, Tauxe RV; et al. (2001). "Practice guidelines for the management of infectious diarrhea". Clin Infect Dis. 32 (3): 331–51. doi:10.1086/318514. PMID 11170940.

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