Gastrointestinal Infections

INFECTIOUS DIARRHOEA (Lecture notes)

Diarrhoea due to an infectious cause is a very common syndrome experienced in a GP setting. It has a very high infant mortality rate, and is characterised by distinct symptoms such as: nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, dehydration, diarrhoea. The severe form is caused by bacterial agents, while mostly commonly caused by viruses.

TWO PATHOGENIC MECHANISMS (Lecture notes)

Infectious diarrhoea can be caused by the: 1) toxigenic, 2) invasive mechanism. The toxigenic mechanism produces watery diarrhoea, and involves the small bowel. Species that cause this range from: Gram –ve bacteria ≫ Viruses. The invasive mechanism produces dysentery (i.e.: bloody diarrhoea), and involves large bowel. Species that cause this include: Shigella spp, EIEC, V.parahaemolyticus.

Category: Microbiology Notes