Topic Info - BotMed Application

TopicName

Chronic diarrhea

ClinicalTests

CBC (anemia);
CPR/ESR (inflammatory markers);
anti-tissue transglutaminase; total IgA (celiac);

Fat in stool --> fatty D; 
calprotectin in high --> inflammatory D.: (IBD, C.dif, colitis, colon cancer) --> stool study;
non of them --> watery;

Fatty: AST/ALT/bilirubin;
AFP (liver cancer);
C. difficile toxin in stool  (unexplained diarrhea after three days of hospitalization);

Giardia antigen in stool;
Elisa, WB (HIV);

ImagingStudies

Colonoscopy with biopsy (colonic cancer, celiac, IBD);
CT (diverticulitis, IBD)

PhysicalExams

Vital signs; relevant thyroid/endocrine exam; abdominal and rectal exams; ± female pelvic exam.

Comment

Chronic: >30 days;
Any blood?
Frequency, color, odor, and volume of stools; presence of mucus or flatulence; whether stools float in bowl; duration of change in bowel habits; associated symptoms (constitutional, abdominal pain, bloating, tenesmus, sense of incomplete evacuation, melena or hematochezia); thyroid disease symptoms (eg, feeling hot, palpitations, weight loss); diet (especially fiber and fluid intake); medications (including recent antibiotics); sick contacts, travel, camping, HIV risk factors; history of abdominal surgeries, diabetes, pancreatitis; alcohol and drug use; family history of colon cancer.

WebLink

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2020/0415/p472.html