Diarrhea

Abstract

The gastrointestinal tract normally processes 9 to 10 liters of water daily, allowing no more than 100 to 150 cc to reach the rectum in 24 hours. Diarrhea usually seems to result from an impairment in water transport somewhere along the line. The history should therefore include questions focusing on clinical possibilities of osmotic, absorptive, secretory, and motility disorders which might result in water malabsorption.

The diagnosis of functional diarrhea still creates a clinical dilemma, ie, how far should an investigation be carried and how often should it be repeated?

Oral administration of isotonic glucose and mixed electrolyte solutions often ameliorates secretory diarrheas induced by bacterial toxins.—AR