CASE STUDY

Diarrhoea and Vomiting Case Study

Diarrhoea and Vomiting Case Study

Introduction

This paper presents analysis of a case study that revolves around an adult woman Ms. Potter, aged 76 years. She was admitted at a local hospital on account of diarrhoea and vomiting. She had also experienced dehydration prior to admission. She shows evident signs of confusion during the IV process. Diarrhoea is one of the most important diseases that accounts for severe dehydration. This statement is in line with Ms. Potter's condition described in the scenario. This paper has three sections.

The first section presents information about the elements of infection. This section also includes relevant information about diarrhoea, its types, and clinical features. Further this section provides information about laboratory derangements, management of disease, and provision of IV treatment and its procedure. The second section presents information about effectiveness of methods that are in use to treat diarrhoea in elderly patients.

One of the most important methods to treat diarrhoea, currently in use is called differential diagnosis. The third section provides information about ethical practices that clinicians should follow in order to provide adequate treatment to the patients suffering from diarrhoea.

Elements of Infection

Diarrhoea, also spelled dirrhoea, poses a serious threat to the British population in contemporary times. Diarrhoea is characterised by frequent liquid faeces (Hamme, 2007, 96). There can be many reasons for the development of diarrhoea. The disease can be divided in to two significant types - i.e. acute diarrhoea and exercise-induced diarrhoea. Bacteria, viruses, and parasites are common agents that cause diarrhoea. These agents can also trigger a spell of vomiting, which is the case with Ms. Potters. Eating contaminated food and drinking contaminated water can also result in the development of diarrhoea.

Surprisingly, most of the patients suffering from diarrhoea, share a common characteristic of being anxious, feeling light-heartedness and dehydration, as was the case with Ms. Potter. It is rather surprising the individuals, who smoke or who are addicted to binge drinking also suffer from diarrhoea (Gracey, 1991).

Diarrhoea: it is the abnormal increase in the frequency and fluid content of stool. It is classified into multiple types:

Secretory diarrhoea: due to hypersecretion of fluid in the gut lumen

Osmotic diarrhoea: due to bulking effect of food stuff

Infective diarrhoea: due to any infection, viral or bacterial or parasitic. Food poisoning can be a cause of infective diarrhoea, similarly contaminated water.

Drug induced: like laxatives, bulking agents, gut irritants

Disease related: associated with other diseases like colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, crohns disease, hyperthyroidism, ulcerative colitis etc (Gracey, 1991, 34).

Clinical Features

Patient has symptoms of diarrhoea with increased frequency of stool with thick fluid consistency, vomiting leading to dehydration, abdominal cramps, pruritis ani, electrolytes imbalances leading to lethargy, cramps, confusion, delirium, psychosis and even coma, if infective then fever, foul smelling feces is also associated (Icon Health Publications, 2002, 19). If untreated severe dehydration can lead to hypovolemia shock state which ultimately results in multi organ failure and then multi system organ failure like dehydration leads decrease in cardiac ...