Acute diarrhea physical examination: Difference between revisions
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{{Acute diarrhea}} | {{Acute diarrhea}} | ||
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==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
Patients with | Patients with acute diarrhea usually appear [[Ill feeling|ill]], [[Dehydration|dehydrated]] or [[Fatigue|lethargic]]. Common [[physical examination]] findings of acute diarrhea include [[hypotension]] and other signs of [[Hypovolemia|volume depletion]] (depressed [[consciousness]], sunken [[anterior fontanelle]], dry [[mucous membranes]], sunken eyes, poor skin turgor and [[Capillary refill time|delayed capillary refill]]), [[abdominal tenderness]] and [[distension]], increased [[Peristalsis|peristaltic]] activity ([[Borborygmus|borborygmi]]). | ||
Common physical examination findings of [ | |||
==Physical Examination== | ==Physical Examination== | ||
[[Physical examination]] of patients with acute diarrhea shows signs of [[dehydration]] ([[dry mouth]] and [[tongue]], sunken eyes, sunken [[anterior fontanelle]], poor skin turgor, [[hypotension]], [[Altered mental state|altered consciousness]], absent tears), [[Tenderness (medicine)|abdominal tenderness]] and [[distension]], increased [[Peristalsis|peristaltic]] activity, [[perineal]] [[erythema]] and signs of [[malnutrition]]. | |||
=== | ===Appearance of the patient=== | ||
*Patients with acute diarrhea may appear [[Ill feeling|ill]], [[dehydrated]], or [[lethargic]] depending upon the severity of diarrhea. | |||
===Vital signs=== | |||
* [[Hypotension]] | * [[Hypotension]] | ||
* [[Fever]] | * [[Fever]] | ||
* [[Orthostasis]] | * [[Orthostasis]] | ||
*[[Tachycardia]] or [[bradycardia]] | |||
*[[Tachypnea]] | |||
'''Assessment of dehydration:'''<ref name="pmid28613793">{{cite journal |vauthors=Vega RM, Bhimji SS |title= |journal= |volume= |issue= |pages= |year= |pmid=28613793 |doi= |url=}}</ref><ref name="pmid28846339">{{cite journal |vauthors=Nemeth V, Pfleghaar N |title= |journal= |volume= |issue= |pages= |year= |pmid=28846339 |doi= |url=}}</ref> | |||
*[[Dehydration]] is the major cause of [[morbidity]] and [[Mortality rate|mortality]] in diarrhea. | |||
*Every patient with diarrhea should be assessed for [[Medical sign|signs]], [[symptoms]], and severity. | |||
*Common findings of [[Hypovolemia|volume depletion]] on physical examination include [[lethargy]], depressed consciousness, diminshed skin turgor, sunken [[anterior fontanelle]], dry [[mucous membranes]], sunken eyes, lack of tears, and delayed [[capillary refill]] are obvious and important signs of [[dehydration]]. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
! style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF" | | |||
! style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF" |Mild dehydration (<5%) | |||
! style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF" |Moderate dehydration (5-10%) | |||
! style="background:#4479BA; color: #FFFFFF" |Severe dehydration | |||
|- | |||
| style="background:#DCDCDC; + " |Eyes | |||
|Normal | |||
|Sunken | |||
|Very sunken | |||
|- | |||
| style="background:#DCDCDC; + " |Tears | |||
|Present | |||
|Absent | |||
|Absent | |||
|- | |||
| style="background:#DCDCDC; + " |Thirst | |||
|Normal | |||
|Thirsty | |||
|Poor | |||
|- | |||
| style="background:#DCDCDC; + " |Mouth | |||
|Moist | |||
|Dry | |||
|Very dry | |||
|- | |||
| style="background:#DCDCDC; + " |Urine output | |||
|Normal | |||
|Decreased | |||
|Oliguric | |||
|- | |||
| style="background:#DCDCDC; + " |Fontanelle | |||
|Normal | |||
|Sunken | |||
|Sunken | |||
|- | |||
| style="background:#DCDCDC; + " |Respirations | |||
|Normal | |||
|[[Tachypnea]] | |||
|[[Tachypnea]] | |||
|- | |||
| style="background:#DCDCDC; + " |Mental status | |||
|Normal | |||
|Irritable | |||
|Altered | |||
|- | |||
| style="background:#DCDCDC; + " |Blood pressure | |||
|Normal | |||
|[[Hypotension]] | |||
|[[Hypotension]] | |||
|} | |||
===Skin=== | ===Skin=== | ||
* | * [[Skin]] examination of patients with diarrhea can be done by pinch test. | ||
* If the [[skin]] on the [[thigh]], [[Calf muscle|calf]], or [[forearm]] is pinched, it will immediately return to its normal flat state when the pinch is released in normal patients. | |||
**Mild dehydration (0-5%): Pinch retracts immediately | |||
**Moderate dehydration (5-10%): Pinch retracts slowly | |||
**Severe dehydration (>10%): Pinch remain folded | |||
*Delayed [[capillary refill]] | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* | |||
*[[ | |||
===Heart=== | ===Heart=== | ||
*Hypotension | *[[Hypotension]] | ||
*Tachycardia/ Bradycardia | *[[Tachycardia]]/ [[Bradycardia]] | ||
*Decreased [[jugular venous pressure]] | |||
===Abdomen=== | ===Abdomen=== | ||
*[[Abdominal distention]] | *[[Abdominal distention]] | ||
*Diffuse [[ | *Diffuse [[abdominal tenderness]] | ||
*Borborygmi | *[[Borborygmus|Borborygmi]] | ||
*Rebound abdominal tenderness | *Rigidity and [[Rebound tenderness|rebound abdominal tenderness]] | ||
*[[Hepatospleenomegaly]] is associated with | *[[Organomegaly|Hepatospleenomegaly]] is associated with certain [[Infection|infections]] ([[Mycobacterium avium intracellulare|Mycobacterium Avium complex]], [[Salmonellosis]]) | ||
'''Perineal erythema''' | |||
*In children mostly, frequent passage of [[Human feces|stools]] cause [[perineal]] skin breakdown. | |||
*[[Malabsorption|Carbohydrate malabsorption]] secondary to diarrhea may be responsible for more acidic [[stools]], that results in [[erythema]]. | |||
* | *[[Bile acid malabsorption]] leads to [[Dermatitis|diaper dermatitis]] that is severe, appears as burnt perianal [[skin]]. | ||
'''Failure to thrive and malnutrition''' | |||
* | *Reductions in [[muscle]] and [[fat]] mass or peripheral [[edema]] may be present in presence of underlying [[carbohydrate]], [[fat]], and/or [[protein]] [[malabsorption]]. | ||
* | *[[Giardia lamblia|Giardia]] can cause intermittent diarrhea and fat malabsorption. | ||
===Lungs=== | |||
* | *Examination is usually normal. | ||
*[[Tachypnea]] caused by [[metabolic acidosis]] as a result of severe [[Hypovolemia|volume depletion]]. | |||
=== | ===HEENT=== | ||
* | *Sunken [[anterior fontanelle]] | ||
*Oral mucosal lesions and [[Stomatitis|angular stomatitis]] in [[tropical sprue]] | |||
* | *Dry [[Mucous membrane|mucous membranes]] and [[tongue]] | ||
* | |||
* | |||
===Neuromuscular=== | ===Neuromuscular=== | ||
*[[Muscle weakness]] and [[Seizure|convulsions]] because of moderate to severe [[Electrolyte disturbance|electrolyte imbalance]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist|2}} | {{Reflist|2}} | ||
{{WH}} | {{WH}} | ||
{{WS}} | {{WS}} | ||
[[Category: | <references /> | ||
[[Category:Medicine]] | |||
[[Category:Gastroenterology]] | |||
[[Category:Up-To-Date]] |
Latest revision as of 20:16, 29 July 2020
Acute Diarrhea Microchapters |
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Acute diarrhea physical examination On the Web |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Acute diarrhea physical examination |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Chandrakala Yannam, MD [2]
Overview
Patients with acute diarrhea usually appear ill, dehydrated or lethargic. Common physical examination findings of acute diarrhea include hypotension and other signs of volume depletion (depressed consciousness, sunken anterior fontanelle, dry mucous membranes, sunken eyes, poor skin turgor and delayed capillary refill), abdominal tenderness and distension, increased peristaltic activity (borborygmi).
Physical Examination
Physical examination of patients with acute diarrhea shows signs of dehydration (dry mouth and tongue, sunken eyes, sunken anterior fontanelle, poor skin turgor, hypotension, altered consciousness, absent tears), abdominal tenderness and distension, increased peristaltic activity, perineal erythema and signs of malnutrition.
Appearance of the patient
- Patients with acute diarrhea may appear ill, dehydrated, or lethargic depending upon the severity of diarrhea.
Vital signs
Assessment of dehydration:[1][2]
- Dehydration is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in diarrhea.
- Every patient with diarrhea should be assessed for signs, symptoms, and severity.
- Common findings of volume depletion on physical examination include lethargy, depressed consciousness, diminshed skin turgor, sunken anterior fontanelle, dry mucous membranes, sunken eyes, lack of tears, and delayed capillary refill are obvious and important signs of dehydration.
Mild dehydration (<5%) | Moderate dehydration (5-10%) | Severe dehydration | |
---|---|---|---|
Eyes | Normal | Sunken | Very sunken |
Tears | Present | Absent | Absent |
Thirst | Normal | Thirsty | Poor |
Mouth | Moist | Dry | Very dry |
Urine output | Normal | Decreased | Oliguric |
Fontanelle | Normal | Sunken | Sunken |
Respirations | Normal | Tachypnea | Tachypnea |
Mental status | Normal | Irritable | Altered |
Blood pressure | Normal | Hypotension | Hypotension |
Skin
- Skin examination of patients with diarrhea can be done by pinch test.
- If the skin on the thigh, calf, or forearm is pinched, it will immediately return to its normal flat state when the pinch is released in normal patients.
- Mild dehydration (0-5%): Pinch retracts immediately
- Moderate dehydration (5-10%): Pinch retracts slowly
- Severe dehydration (>10%): Pinch remain folded
- Delayed capillary refill
Heart
- Hypotension
- Tachycardia/ Bradycardia
- Decreased jugular venous pressure
Abdomen
- Abdominal distention
- Diffuse abdominal tenderness
- Borborygmi
- Rigidity and rebound abdominal tenderness
- Hepatospleenomegaly is associated with certain infections (Mycobacterium Avium complex, Salmonellosis)
Perineal erythema
- In children mostly, frequent passage of stools cause perineal skin breakdown.
- Carbohydrate malabsorption secondary to diarrhea may be responsible for more acidic stools, that results in erythema.
- Bile acid malabsorption leads to diaper dermatitis that is severe, appears as burnt perianal skin.
Failure to thrive and malnutrition
- Reductions in muscle and fat mass or peripheral edema may be present in presence of underlying carbohydrate, fat, and/or protein malabsorption.
- Giardia can cause intermittent diarrhea and fat malabsorption.
Lungs
- Examination is usually normal.
- Tachypnea caused by metabolic acidosis as a result of severe volume depletion.
HEENT
- Sunken anterior fontanelle
- Oral mucosal lesions and angular stomatitis in tropical sprue
- Dry mucous membranes and tongue
Neuromuscular
- Muscle weakness and convulsions because of moderate to severe electrolyte imbalance
References