ABSTRACT
ACUTE DIARRHEA Is the Patient’s Life at Risk? ■ Risk can be from underlying disease process or secondary
effects.
Potentially Dangerous Diseases ■ Invasive infection: Salmonella, Shigella, other ■ Toxin: hemolytic uremic syndrome from Escherichia coli
O157:H7 ■ Ischemia: ischemic bowel ■ Poisoning: organophosphate exposure ■ Gastrointestinal bleed (is this really melena?) ■ Impaction, early obstruction, toxic megacolon
Secondary Effects ■ Hypovolemia: dehydration ■ Electrolyte abnormalities: sodium, potassium, bicarbonate ■ Anemia (if blood loss)
Immediate Evaluation History ■ Frequency and volume of stool, e.g., large volume-dehy-
dration?
