Infectious diarrhoea

Infectious diarrhoea remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Viruses, bacteria and protozoa are responsible for most infections, which are most commonly transmitted by the faecal –oral route through water, food and person-to-person transmission. The clinical presentation conforms to four patterns: acute watery diarrhoea; bloody diarrhoea (dysentery); persistent non-bloody diarrhoea, which can include steatorrhoea; and persistent bloody diarrhoea. Diagnosis still rests heav ily on stool microscopy and culture, although faecal antigen tests and molecular assays are increasingly used.
Source: Medicine - Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Tags: Infection Source Type: research