NEET PG High-Yield: Diarrhoeal Diseases
Diarrhoea is defined as the passage of three or more loose or liquid stools per day. It remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children under 5 in India.
Types & Classification
| Type | Definition |
|---|---|
| Acute Watery | Lasts several hours to days (e.g., Cholera, ETEC). |
| Acute Bloody (Dysentery) | Visible blood in stools (e.g., Shigella, Entamoeba histolytica). |
| Persistent | Lasts 14 days or longer. |
High-Yield NEET PG Pearls:
- ORS Composition (WHO standard): Glucose (75 mEq/L), Sodium (75 mEq/L), Chloride (65 mEq/L), Potassium (20 mEq/L), Citrate (10 mmol/L). Total Osmolarity: 245 mOsm/L.
- Zinc Supplementation: Recommended for 10–14 days in all children with diarrhoea to reduce severity and duration.
- Rotavirus: Leading cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhoea in infants; prevented by oral vaccine.
- Cholera: Characterized by “rice-water stools” and severe dehydration; treat with aggressive rehydration + antibiotics (e.g., Doxycycline).
- Assessment of Dehydration: Categorized as No, Some, or Severe dehydration based on clinical signs (e.g., skin pinch, thirst, mental status).