 |
Patient Care - Diarrhea
Diarrhea/Constipation
A. General considerations
1.
The causes of diarrhea are numerous. The cause should always be established in
all but acute, self-limited episodes. Diarrhea can cause a variety of
electrolyte imbalances,
2.
Symptomatic treatment of diarrhea includes putting the GI tract at rest
by
administering only liquids or foods low in bulk or withholding oral
feedings
entirely, using IV fluids when indicated, and giving an appropriate
antidiarrheal
agent.
B. Antidiarrheal agents are of three major types: (1) bulk-forming
agents, (2) adsorbents, and (3) narcotic agents.
III- Constipation
A. General comments
1.
To facilitate the physiologic bowel action, a diet whose content is rich in in
fiber is preferable to the cathartics. Activity, gastrocolic-reflex
stimulants (e.g., coffee or warm water), and establishment
of a proper
"habit time" could be regarded as very helpful.
Constipation may be a symptom of underlying disease. If these
measures are ineffective, laxatives and/or enemas may be necessary. Laxatives
act by adding moisture to the stool, lubricating it, increasing its bulk, or
stimulating
intestinal motility.
2. Subsequent use of cathartics is contraindicated. Abuse of strong
laxatives may result in (a) excessive loss of fluids during defacation (b)
sodium, and potassium loss as a result of volume depletion, sufficient
to cause secondary aldosteronism and hypokalemic
alkalosis, and also clinical
colitis that could
be mistaken for an Ulcerative Colitis during an abdominal
X-Ray interpretation.
|
|
|