Community Health Nursing-II Diarrhea
Community Health Nursing-II Diarrhea
DIARRHEA
Diarrhea is an acute or chronic intestinal disturbance characterized by increased
frequency, humidity or volume of lower movement. It has been defined as passing
of more than three loose motions in a day or 24 hours.
Types of diarrhea
Risk factor
Mode of transmission
1. Contaminated water
2. Contaminated food
3. Direct contact
1
Action of microbial agent on the epithelial layer of intestine
1. Ask and collect the history from the patient, and his/her relatives regarding:
Diarrhea duration of illness (frequency of stools per day, appearance
consistency color smell presence or absence of blood/mucus).
2. Look and examine the general conditions of the patient for signs of
dehydration:
1. Dehydration:
little to extreme loss of subcutaneous fat
up to 50% total body weight loss
urinary output decrease
poor skin turgor dry skin and dry mouth
sunken fontanelles and eyes
low BP and high pulse
collapse imminent
2. behavioral changes:
irritability
restlessness
2
weakness
Pallor
Extreme prostration
Convulsions
3. Respiration rapid i.e. hyper apnea
4. Stools
Loose and fluid inconsistency
Greenish or yellow green color (mucus or blood)
Collect the specimen of stool for labortary problems for laborty diagnose.
5. Vomiting mild to severe(present or not)
6. Low grade fever
7. Anorexia
8. Thirst: normal or more than normal
SHORT TERM:
MANAGEMENT:
3
Ringers lactate solution
Diarrhea treatment solution
Normal saline (5% dextrose should not be given) recommended dose is
11ml/kg body weight for adult children.