Early viral versus late antibiotic-associated diarrhea in novel coronavirus infection.

ABSTRACT: Diarrhea is one of the manifestations of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), but it also develops as a complication of massive antibiotic therapy in this disease. This study aimed to compare these types of diarrhea.We included patients with COVID-19 in a cohort study and excluded patients with chronic diarrhea, laxative use, and those who died during the first day of hospitalization.There were 89 (9.3%), 161 (16.7%), and 731 (75.7%) patients with early viral, late antibiotic-associated, and without diarrhea, respectively. Late diarrhea lasted longer (6 [4-10] vs 5 [3-7] days, P < .001) and was more severe. Clostridioides difficile was found in 70.5% of tested patients with late diarrhea and in none with early diarrhea. Presence of late diarrhea was associated with an increased risk of death after 20 days of disease (P = .009; hazard ratio = 4.7). Patients with late diarrhea had a longer hospital stay and total disease duration, and a higher proportion of these patients required intensive care unit admission. Oral amoxicillin/clavulanate (odds ratio [OR] = 2.23), oral clarithromycin (OR = 3.79), and glucocorticoids (OR = 4.41) use was a risk factor for the development of late diarrhea, while ceftriaxone use (OR = 0.35) had a protective effect. Before the development of late diarrhea, decrease in C-reactive protein levels and increase in lymphocyte count stopped but the white blood cell and neutrophil count increased. An increase in neutrophils by >0.6 × 109 cells/L predicted the development of late diarrhea in the coming days (sensitivity 82.0%, specificity 70.8%, area under the curve = 0.791 [0.710-0.872]).Diarrhea in COVID-19 is heterogeneous, and different types of diarrhea require different management.

Initial therapy affects duration of diarrhoea in critically ill patients with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI).

BACKGROUND: Critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are at high risk for developing Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI). Risk factors predicting their mortality or standardized treatment recommendations have not been defined for this cohort. Our goal is to determine outcome and mortality associated risk factors for patients at the ICU with CDI by evaluating clinical characteristics and therapy regimens. METHODS: A retrospective single-centre cohort study. One hundred forty-four patients (0.4%) with CDI-associated diarrhoea were included (total 36.477 patients admitted to 12 ICUs from January 2010 to September 2015). Eight patients without specific antibiotic therapy were excluded, so 132 patients were analysed regarding mortality, associated risk factors and therapy regimens using univariate and multivariate regression. RESULTS: Twenty-eight-day mortality was high in patients diagnosed with CDI (27.3%) compared to non-infected ICU patients (9%). Patients with non CDI-related sepsis (n = 40/132; 30.3%) showed further increase in 28-day mortality (45%; p = 0.003). Initially, most patients were treated with a single CDI-specific agent (n = 120/132; 90.9%), either metronidazole (orally, 35.6%; or IV, 37.1%) or vancomycin (18.2%), or with a combination of antibiotics (n = 12/132; 9.1%). Patients treated with metronidazole IV showed significantly longer duration of diarrhoea > 5 days (p = 0.006). In a multivariate regression model, metronidazole IV as initial therapy was an independent risk factor for delayed clinical cure. Immunosuppressants (p = 0.007) during ICU stay lead to increased 28-day mortality. CONCLUSION: Treatment of CDI with solely metronidazole IV leads to a prolonged disease course in critically ill patients.

Diarrhoea: interventions, consequences and epidemiology in the intensive care unit (DICE-ICU): a protocol for a prospective multicentre cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Diarrhoea is a frequent concern in the intensive care unit (ICU) and is associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation, increased length of ICU stay, skin breakdown and renal dysfunction. However, its prevalence, aetiology and prognosis in the critically ill have been poorly studied. The primary objectives of this study are to determine the incidence, risk factors and consequences of diarrhoea in critically ill adults. The secondary objectives are to estimate the incidence of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea (CDAD) in ICU patients and to validate the Bristol Stool Chart and Bliss Stool Classification System characterising bowel movements in the ICU. Our primary outcome is the incidence of diarrhoea . Our secondary outcomes include: CDAD, ICU and hospital mortality and ICU and hospital length of stay. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This international prospective cohort study will enrol patients over 10 weeks in 12 ICUs in Canada, the USA, Poland and Saudi Arabia. We will include all patients 18 years of age and older who are admitted to the ICU for at least 24 hours and follow them daily until ICU discharge. Our primary outcome is the incidence of diarrhoea based on the WHO definition, during the ICU stay. Our secondary outcomes include: CDAD, ICU and hospital mortality and ICU and hospital length of stay. We will use logistic regression to identify factors associated with diarrhoea (as defined using WHO criteria) and the kappa statistic to measure agreement on diarrhoea rates between the WHO definition and the Bristol Stool Chart and Bliss Stool Classification System. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The protocol has been approved by the research ethics board of all participating centres. The diarrhoea interventions, consequences and epidemiology in the intensive care unit (DICE-ICU) study will generate evidence about diarrhoea and its frequency, predisposing factors and consequences, to inform critical care practice and future research. LAY SUMMARY: Diarrhoea is a frequent clinical problem for hospitalised patients including those who are critically ill in the ICU. Diarrhoea can cause complications such as skin damage, dehydration and kidney problems. It is not clear how common diarrhoea is in the ICU, the factors that cause it or the best way for clinicians to assess it. The DICE-ICU study is an international prospective observational study to examine the frequency, risk factors and outcomes of diarrhoea during critical illness.

Defining Diarrhea: A Population-Based Validation Study of Caregiver-Reported Stool Consistency in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia.

Diarrhea is a leading cause of death among children aged less than five years globally. Most studies of pediatric diarrhea rely on caregiver-reported stool consistency and frequency to define the disease. Research on the validity of caregiver-reported diarrhea is sparse. We collected stool samples from 2,398 children participating in two clinical trials in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. The consistency of each stool sample was graded by the child's caregiver and two trained laboratory technicians according to an illustrated stool consistency scale. We assessed the reliability of graded stool consistency among the technicians, and then compared the caregiver's grade with the technician's grade. We also tested if the illustrated stool consistency scale could improve the validity of caregiver's report. The weighted kappa measuring the agreement between the two laboratory technicians reached 0.90 after 500 stool samples were graded. The sensitivity of caregiver-reported loose or watery stool was 15.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.7, 24.2) and the specificity was 98.4% (95% CI 97.1, 99.1). With the illustrated scale, the sensitivity was 68.5% (95% CI: 58.5, 77.1) and the specificity was 86.1% (95% CI: 79.3, 90.9). The results indicate that caregiver-reported stool consistency using the terms "loose or watery" does not accurately describe stool consistency as graded by trained laboratory technicians. Given the predominance of using caregiver-reported stool consistency to define diarrheal disease, the low sensitivity identified in this study suggests that the burden of diarrheal disease may be underestimated and intervention effects could be biased. The illustrated scale is a potential low-lost tool to improve the validity of caregiver-reported stool consistency.

Serum Zinc Levels as a Predictor of Severity of Acute Diarrhea.

OBJECTIVE: To determine relationship between serum zinc levels and severity of diarrhea as determined by hydration status, duration of diarrhea and requirement for hospitalization. Also, to compare serum zinc levels in relation to rotavirus status. METHODS: A prospective observational study which included 254 children aged 6 mo to 5 y with diarrhea was conducted. RESULTS: Serum zinc levels could be estimated in 198 children. Median (IQR) serum zinc levels of study population were 73.5 (59.11-92.86)µg/dl. Median (IQR) of serum zinc levels in children with dehydration and without dehydration were 69.64 (54.57-81.62) and 82.86 (64.1-103.48) µg/dl respectively (p < 0.001). Median (IQR) of serum zinc levels in hospitalised and non-hospitalished children were 63.28 (51.81-85.37) and 74.86 (61.75-95.78) µg/dl, respectively (p 0.013). Median (IQR) of total duration of diarrhea was 4.8 (3.5-6.0) d and it did not correlate with serum zinc levels. Median (IQR) of serum zinc levels in children, with rotavirus diarrhea was 66.8 (49.7-82.48) and non-rotavirus diarrhea was 80.0 (62.42-100.12) µg/dl (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Children with dehydration and those with rotavirus diarrhea tend to have significantly lower serum zinc levels. Hospitalized children also have lower serum zinc levels than non-hospitalized children. Duration of diarrhea does not relate with serum zinc levels.

Development and validation of a patient-reported questionnaire assessing systemic therapy induced diarrhea in oncology patients.

BACKGROUND: Systemic therapy-induced diarrhea (STID) is a common side effect experienced by more than half of cancer patients. Despite STID-associated complications and poorer quality of life (QoL), no validated assessment tools exist to accurately assess STID occurrence and severity to guide clinical management. Therefore, we developed and validated a patient-reported questionnaire (STIDAT). METHODS: The STIDAT was developed using the FDA iterative process for patient-reported outcomes. A literature search uncovered potential items and questions for questionnaire construction used by oncology clinicians to develop questions for the preliminary instrument. The instrument was evaluated on its face validity and content validity by patient interviews. Repetitive, similar and different themes uncovered from patient interviews were implemented to revise the instrument to the version used for validation. Patients starting high-risk STID treatments were monitored using the STIDAT, bowel diaries and EORTC QLQ-C30. The STIDAT was evaluated for construct validity using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using minimal residual method with Promax rotation, reliability and consistency. A weighted scoring system was developed and a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve evaluated the tool's ability to detect STID occurrence. Median scores and variability were analysed to determine how well it differentiates between diarrhea severities. A post-hoc analysis determined how diarrhea severity impacted QoL of cancer patients. RESULTS: Patients defined diarrhea based on presence of watery stool. The STIDAT assessed patient's perception of having diarrhea, daily number of bowel movements, daily number of diarrhea episodes, antidiarrheal medication use, the presence of urgency, abdominal pain, abdominal spasms or fecal incontinence, patient's perception of diarrhea severity, and QoL. These dimensions were sorted into four clusters using EFA - patient's perception of diarrhea, frequency of diarrhea, fecal incontinence and abdominal symptoms. Cronbach's alpha was 0.78; kappa ranged from 0.934-0.952, except for abdominal spasms (κ = 0.0455). The positive predictive value was 96.4%, with the minimum score of 1.35 predicting a positive STID occurrence. Patients with moderate or severe diarrhea experience significant decreases in QoL compared to those with no diarrhea. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first patient-reported questionnaire that accurately predicts the occurrence and severity of diarrhea in oncology patients via assessing several bowel habit dimensions.

Defining Pediatric Diarrhea in Low-Resource Settings.

Differences in definitions of acute pediatric diarrhea result in variable estimates of morbidity and mortality, treatment coverage, and associations with risk factors and outcomes. We reviewed published literature and guidelines focused on acute pediatric diarrhea in low- and middle-income countries. Clinical guidelines most commonly defined diarrhea in terms of quantity of loose or watery stool with consideration of normal stool patterns, whereas research studies often relied exclusively on a quantitative definition. The most commonly used quantitative definition, ≥3 loose or watery stools in a 24-hour period, has been compared to gold standards of caregiver perception and visual inspection of stool, with variable agreement. Age, breast-feeding status, and setting (facility vs household-based) influence the performance of quantitative diarrhea definitions in children. Universal adoption of a set of valid gold standard definitions specifically aligned with various programmatic and research goals will lead to more accurate coverage estimates and better-informed resource prioritization.

Genetic diversity of Blastocystis hominis sensu lato isolated from humans in Poland

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Blastocystis hominis s. l. is one of the most commonly detected protozoa in the human large intestine. The aim of the study was to determine the genetic subtypes of Blastocystis hominis s. l. occurring in humans in Poland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stool samples from patients diagnosed in the Laboratory of the Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Public Health ­ National Institute of Hygiene (NIZP-PZH) and in the Parasitology Laboratory of the Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Warsaw were examined. Blastocystis subtypes were assayed based on the fragment of small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequences (SSU rDNA). RESULTS: The examined isolates were classified into five Blastocystis subtypes (STs), fifteen of which belonged to ST3, three to ST1, two to ST2, two to ST6, and one isolate belonged to ST7. In three cases the subtype of isolate was not identified. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: In Poland, the subtypes ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4, ST6 and ST7 have been reported in humans so far. The ST6 and ST7 subtypes are rarely detected in humans in Europe. In Poland, the ST6 subtype was previously described in chickens. On the basis of the studies, it was found that Blastocystis isolated from humans in Warsaw show high genetic diversity. In order to determine the possible pathogenic potential of individual Blastocystis subtypes, special epidemiological studies are required.

Distinct Abnormalities of Small Bowel and Regional Colonic Volumes in Subtypes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Revealed by MRI.

OBJECTIVES: Non-invasive biomarkers which identify different mechanisms of disease in subgroups of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) could be valuable. Our aim was to seek useful magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters that could distinguish each IBS subtypes. METHODS: 34 healthy volunteers (HV), 30 IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D), 16 IBS with constipation (IBS-C), and 11 IBS with mixed bowel habit (IBS-M) underwent whole-gut transit and small and large bowel volumes assessment with MRI scans from t=0 to t=360 min. Since the bowel frequency for IBS-M were similar to IBS-D, IBS-M and IBS-D were grouped together and labeled as IBS non-constipation group (IBS-nonC). RESULTS: Median (interquartile range): fasting small bowel water content in IBS-nonC was 21 (10-42), significantly less than HV at 44 ml (15-70), P<0.01 as was the postprandial area under the curve (AUC) P<0.01. The fasting transverse colon volumes in IBS-C were significantly larger at 253 (200-329) compared with HV, IBS-nonC whose values were 165 (117-255) and 198 (106-270) ml, respectively, P=0.02. Whole-gut transit time for IBS-C was prolonged at 69 (51-111), compared with HV at 34 (4-63) and IBS-D at 34 (17-78) h, P=0.03. Bloating score (VAS 0-10 cm) correlated with transverse colon volume at t=405 min, Spearman r=0.21, P=0.04. CONCLUSIONS: The constricted small bowel in IBS-nonC and the dilated transverse colon in IBS-C point to significant differences in underlying mechanisms of disease.

75SeHCAT scan in bile acid malabsorption in chronic diarrhoea. / Gammagrafía con 75SeHCAT en la diarrea crónica por malabsorción de ácidos biliares.

Chronic diarrhoea is a common entity in daily clinical practice and it leads to a loss in these patients quality of life. It may be the main symptom of multiple ethiologies including bile acid malabsorption (BAM) which has a comparable prevalence to celiac disease. The BAM results from imbalances in the homeostasis of bile acids in the enterohepatic circulation. It can be a consequence of ileal disease or ileal dysfunction (BAM type i), it can be considered idiopathic or primary (BAM type ii) or associated with other gastrointestinal entities (BAM type iii). Among the different diagnostic methods available, 75SeHCAT study is the primary current method due to its sensitivity, specificity, safety and low cost. The main disadvantage is that it's not available in all countries, so other diagnostic methods have appeared, such as serum measurement of FGF19 and C4, however they are significantly more complex and costly. The first-line treatment of bile acid diarrhoea is bile acid sequestrant, such as cholestyramine, which can be difficult to administer due to its poor tolerability and gastrointestinal side effects. These are less prominent with newer agents such as colesevelam. In summary, the BAM is a common entity underdiagnosed and undertreated, so it is essential to establish a diagnosis algorithm of chronic diarrhoea in which the 75SeHCAT study would be first or second line in the differential diagnosis of these patients.

Diarrea crónica: definición, clasificación y diagnóstico / Chronic diarrhoea: definition, classification and diagnosis

La diarrea crónica es un síntoma de presentación frecuente, tanto en las consultas de medicina de familia como en las de digestivo. Se estima que >5% de la población sufre diarrea crónica y que cerca del 40% de estos sujetos son mayores de 60 años. El clínico se enfrenta con frecuencia a la necesidad de decidir cuál es el mejor enfoque diagnóstico de estos pacientes y elegir entre las múltiples pruebas diagnósticas existentes. En 2014 la Societat Catalana de Digestologia creó un grupo de trabajo con el objetivo principal de crear algoritmos diagnósticos en base a la práctica clínica y evaluar las pruebas diagnósticas disponibles y la evidencia científica para su utilización. Para clasificar la evidencia científica y la fuerza de las recomendaciones se utilizó el sistema GRADE. Se han establecido 28 recomendaciones y 6 algoritmos diagnósticos. Se describen los criterios de derivación desde medicina primaria a digestivo de un paciente con diarrea crónica

Chronic diarrhoea is a common presenting symptom in both primary care medicine and in specialized gastroenterology clinics. It is estimated that >5% of the population has chronic diarrhoea and nearly 40% of these patients are older than 60 years. Clinicians often need to select the best diagnostic approach to these patients and choose between the multiple diagnostic tests available. In 2014 the Catalan Society of Gastroenterology formed a working group with the main objective of creating diagnostic algorithms based on clinical practice and to evaluate diagnostic tests and the scientific evidence available for their use. The GRADE system was used to classify scientific evidence and strength of recommendations. The consensus document contains 28 recommendations and 6 diagnostic algorithms. The document also describes criteria for referral from primary to specialized care

Chronic diarrhoea: Definition, classification and diagnosis / Diarrea crónica: definición, clasificación y diagnóstico

Chronic diarrhoea is a common presenting symptom in both primary care medicine and in specialized gastroenterology clinics. It is estimated that >5% of the population has chronic diarrhoea and nearly 40% of these patients are older than 60 years. Clinicians often need to select the best diagnostic approach to these patients and choose between the multiple diagnostic tests available. In 2014 the Catalan Society of Gastroenterology formed a working group with the main objective of creating diagnostic algorithms based on clinical practice and to evaluate diagnostic tests and the scientific evidence available for their use. The GRADE system was used to classify scientific evidence and strength of recommendations. The consensus document contains 28 recommendations and 6 diagnostic algorithms. The document also describes criteria for referral from primary to specialized care.

La diarrea crónica es un síntoma de presentación frecuente, tanto en las consultas de medicina de familia como en las de digestivo. Se estima que >5% de la población sufre diarrea crónica y que cerca del 40% de estos sujetos son mayores de 60 años. El clínico se enfrenta con frecuencia a la necesidad de decidir cuál es el mejor enfoque diagnóstico de estos pacientes y elegir entre las múltiples pruebas diagnósticas existentes. En 2014 la Societat Catalana de Digestologia creó un grupo de trabajo con el objetivo principal de crear algoritmos diagnósticos en base a la práctica clínica y evaluar las pruebas diagnósticas disponibles y la evidencia científica para su utilización. Para clasificar la evidencia científica y la fuerza de las recomendaciones se utilizó el sistema GRADE. Se han establecido 28 recomendaciones y 6 algoritmos diagnósticos. Se describen los criterios de derivación desde medicina primaria a digestivo de un paciente con diarrea crónica.

[How to Manage Chronic Diarrhoea]. / Abklärung der chronischen Diarrhö.

The differential diagnosis of chronic diarrhoea is broad and the evaluation of these patients represents a diagnostic challenge. This review provides a practical approach to reduce unnecessary testing while minimising the oversight of an important disease. Initial investigations include a detailed history, physical examination, and basic laboratory tests. Most younger patients (<50) with normal initial screen have functional diarrhoea. In patients above age 50, colonoscopy is recommended complementary for initial evaluation. In the absence of an identifiable cause, categorizing patients by having inflammatory or non-inflammatory chronic diarrhoea is helpful in directing further evaluation.

[Chronic diarrhoea: Definition, classification and diagnosis]. / Diarrea crónica: definición, clasificación y diagnóstico.

Chronic diarrhoea is a common presenting symptom in both primary care medicine and in specialized gastroenterology clinics. It is estimated that >5% of the population has chronic diarrhoea and nearly 40% of these patients are older than 60 years. Clinicians often need to select the best diagnostic approach to these patients and choose between the multiple diagnostic tests available. In 2014 the Catalan Society of Gastroenterology formed a working group with the main objective of creating diagnostic algorithms based on clinical practice and to evaluate diagnostic tests and the scientific evidence available for their use. The GRADE system was used to classify scientific evidence and strength of recommendations. The consensus document contains 28 recommendations and 6 diagnostic algorithms. The document also describes criteria for referral from primary to specialized care.

[Differentiation Study of Chinese Medical Syndrome Typing for Diarrhea-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Based on Information of Four Chinese Medical Diagnostic Methods and Brain-gut Peptides].

OBJECTIVE: To establish discriminant functions of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) by studying it from quantitative diagnosis angle, hoping to reduce interference of subjective factors in diagnosing and differentially diagnosing Chinese medical syndromes of IBS-D. METHODS: A Chinese medical clinical epidemiological survey was carried out in 439 IBS-D patients using Clinical Information Collection Table of IBS. Initial syndromes were obtained by cluster analysis. They were analyzed using step-by-step discrimination by taking information of four Chinese medical diagnostic methods and serum brain-gut peptides (BGP) as variables. RESULTS: Clustering results were Gan stagnation Pi deficiency syndrome (GSPDS), Pi-Wei weakness syndrome (PWWS), Gan stagnation qi stasis syndrome (GSQSS), Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome (PSYDS), Pi-Wei damp-heat syndrome (PWDHS), cold-damp disturbing Pi syndrome (CDDPS). Of them, GSPDS was mostly often seen with effective percentage of 34. 2%, while CDDPS was the least often seen with effective percentage of 5.5%. A total of 5 discriminant functions for GSPDS, PWWS, GSQSS, PSYDS, and PWDHS were obtained by step-by-step dis- crimination method. The retrospective misjudgment rate was 4.1% (16/390), while the cross-validation misjudgment rate was 15.4% (60/390). CONCLUSION: The establishment of discriminant functions is of value in objectively diagnosing and differentially diagnosing Chinese medical syndromes of IBS-D.

Atenciones por diarreas en la provincia de Camagüey de enero a junio de 2015 / Medical attention for diarrhea in Camagüey province from January to June, 2015

Fundamento: en la provincia de Camagüey se manifiesta un incremento del número de atenciones por diarreas en el 1er trimestre del año 2015 con relación al 2014.Objetivo: caracterizar las atenciones por diarreas durante el periodo enero-junio de 2015, así como sus riesgos, las principales etiologías y los métodos de pronóstico para la vigilancia.Métodos: se realizó una encuesta en dos áreas de salud sobre aspectos de ambiente y estilos de vida. Se analizaron los resultados de los coprocultivos y de los análisis parasitológicos realizados en ese periodo. Se analizó la serie de tiempo de casos diarios en el municipio Camagüey. Se determinó el número reproductivo básico.Resultados: la encuesta permitió valorar los grupos de edades más afectados y encontrar algunos comportamientos y factores que favorecieron la dispersión de diarreas agudas. Se reflejaron las principales causas encontradas en las diarreas analizadas. Se realizó y analizó la posibilidad de sistematizar pronósticos con modelos de series de tiempo y de número reproductivo básico.Conclusiones: en las áreas analizadas aumentó el número de atenciones por diarrea por factores ambientales y de comportamiento relacionado con inadecuados hábitos y estilos de vida. Los diagnósticos de coprocultivo en la provincia han sido insuficientes dado el volumen de casos; la vigilancia no refleja constancia en el reporte diario de casos. No se utilizan elementos de la teoría de epidemias en los análisis epidemiológicos.(AU)

Background: in Camagüey province there is an increase in medical attention for diarrheas in the first three-month period of the year 2015 in relation to the year 2014.Objective: to characterize the medical attention for diarrhea from January to June, 2015 and its risks, main etiologies, and the prognosis methods for vigilance.Methods: a survey about aspects related to the environment and lifestyles was made in two health areas. The results from the stool tests and from the parasitological analyses made in this period were analyzed. The sequence of time of daily cases in Camagüey municipality was also analyzed. The basic reproduction number was determined.Results: the survey allowed assessing the most affected age groups and finding some behaviors and factors that favored the dispersion of acute diarrheas. The main causes found in the analyzed diarrheas are mentioned. The possibility of systematizing the prognosis with models of series of time and of basic reproduction number was made and analyzed.Conclusions: in the analyzed areas, the medical attention to diarrhea increased because of environmental factors and behaviors related to inadequate habits and lifestyles. The diagnosis from the stool tests in Camagüey province have not been enough due to the great number of cases. The elements of the theory of epidemics are not used in the epidemiological analyses.(AU)

What you must know before you recommend a probiotic.

Evidence for using probiotics for diarrhea and other GI ailments is mixed. This article--with an at-a-glance guide--summarizes when it's worth considering.

[FUNCTIONAL BLOATING, CONSTIPATION AND DIARRHEA].

Functional disorders and diseases are usually diagnosed by exclusion when there is no clear presence of inflammatory, anatomic, metabolic, or neoplastic processes which would explain the symptoms and difficulties of the patient. The Rome III Diagnostic Criteria for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGID) are used in clinical and scientific medicine. Functional disorders of the upper gastrointestinal system in adults are classified into six groups. Group C are functional bowel disorders which include irritable bowel syndrome (C1), functional bloating (C2), functional constipation (C3) and functional diarrhea (4). The symptoms of functional gastrointestinal disorders are often a combination of disrupted physiological functions, such as an increase in motor reactivity of the intestine, visceral hypersensitivity, impaired immune functions and inflammatory intestinal mucosa followed by change in the intestinal bacterial flora and disrupted central nervous system-enteric nervous system regulation because of exposure to different psychosocial and sociocultural factors. The symptoms must be present for at least six months before clinical manifestation of the disease and also must be currently present and diagnostically confirmed in the last three months. Diagnostic procedures are targeted individually, depending on the patient age, nature of symptoms, and other clinical and laboratory characteristics. Treatment is based on health education, nutrition counseling, medication and psychological support.

Gastro 2013 APDW/WCOG Shanghai working party report: chronic diarrhea: definition, classification, diagnosis.

Diarrhea is best defined as passage of loose stools often with more frequent bowel movements. For clinical purposes, the Bristol Stool Form Scale works well to distinguish stool form and to identify loose stools. Laboratory testing of stool consistency has lagged behind. Acute diarrhea is likely to be due to infection and to be self-limited. As diarrhea becomes chronic, it is less likely to be due to infection; duration of 1 month seems to work well as a cut-off for chronic diarrhea, but detailed scientific knowledge is missing about the utility of this definition. In addition to duration of diarrhea, classifications by presenting scenario, by pathophysiology, and by stool characteristics (e.g. watery, fatty, or inflammatory) may help the canny clinician refine the differential diagnosis of chronic diarrhea. In this regard, a careful history remains the essential part of the evaluation of a patient with diarrhea. Imaging the intestine with endoscopy and radiographic techniques is useful, and biopsy of the small intestine and colon for histological assessment provides key diagnostic information. Endomicroscopy and molecular pathology are only now being explored for the diagnosis of chronic diarrhea. Interest in the microbiome of the gut is increasing; aside from a handful of well-described infections because of pathogens, little is known about alterations in the microbiome in chronic diarrhea. Serological tests have well-defined roles in the diagnosis of celiac disease but have less clearly defined application in autoimmune enteropathies and inflammatory bowel disease. Measurement of peptide hormones is of value in the diagnosis and management of endocrine tumors causing diarrhea, but these are so rare that these tests are of little value in screening because there will be many more false-positives than true-positive results. Chemical analysis of stools is of use in classifying chronic diarrhea and may limit the differential diagnosis that must be considered, but interpretation of the results is still evolving. Breath tests for assessment of carbohydrate malabsorption, small bowel bacterial overgrowth, and intestinal transit are fraught with technical limitations that decrease sensitivity and specificity. Likewise, tests of bile acid malabsorption have had limited utility beyond empirical trials of bile acid sequestrants.