Disorders of the Small Intestines Quiz

• Ampicillin, amoxicillin, and clindamycin are antibiotics with results that may require treatment with vancomycin and/or metronidazole (flagyl)
• Diarrhea causes and treatment: restore normal fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance, medications such as LoMotil, Immodium, Bismuth compounds, Flagyl, Lactinex
• Constipation definition: decreased frequency of bowel movements, presence of hard stools, need to strain
• Constipation causes: slow transit time, part of a disease process like irritable bowel syndrome, Parkinson's, MS, side effect of medications
• Constipation treatment: treat underlying etiology, bowel retraining, enemas, cathartic, laxatives, bulking agents, stool softeners
• Malabsorption: maldigestion of fat, carbohydrate, protein, etiology: villi in small intestine, liver pancreas dysfunction, decreased transit time, surgery
• Celiac disease: damage to intestinal mucosa from gluten exposure, genetic and autoimmune, more common than originally thought, affects 1 in 133 people, can take 11 years to diagnose, environmental factors: younger age for gluten introduction, shorter time for breastfeeding, viral infection during infancy, signs/symptoms: diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, gas, bone and joint pain, muscle cramping, fatigue, peripheral neuropathy, seizures, skin rash, higher risk for lymphoma and osteoporosis, anemia
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): functional disorder, abdominal pain or discomfort that occurs in association with altered bowel habits over a period of three months, diarrhea, constipation, mix = diarrhea + constipation, three subtypes: IBS-D, IBS-C, IBS-M, affects more women under 50, abnormal motility plays major role in symptoms, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, increased permeability of the mucosa, life stressors, serotonin
• Malabsorption: malabsorption can lead to nutrient deficiencies, celiac disease is not an allergy to gluten, it is an intolerance, RD can help diagnose celiac disease earlier.
• Antibiotic-associated diarrhea causes: Clostridioides difficile infection, C. difficile toxins, treatment: metronidazole, vancomycin, fecal microbiota transplant
• HANDWASHING: prevent diarrhea, proper handwashing reduces risk of infection, alcohol-based hand sanitizers more effective than soap and water for killing C. difficile spores
• Antibiotic-associated diarrhea prevention: limit antibiotic use, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, proper hand hygiene
• Antibiotic-associated diarrhea pathophysiology: disruption of gut microbiota, impaired intestinal barrier function, inflammation, toxins, altered motility
• Antibiotic-associated diarrhea diagnosis: clinical features, laboratory tests, stool culture, C. difficile toxin assay, colonoscopy
• Antibiotic-associated diarrhea treatment: metronidazole, vancomycin, fecal microbiota transplant, supportive care, dietary modifications
• Antibiotics and constipation: antibiotics can alter gut microbiota and disrupt motility, leading to constipation, treatment: bulking agents, laxatives, stool softeners, fiber supplements, probiotics
• Antibiotics and diarrhea: antibiotics can disrupt gut microbiota and impair intestinal barrier function, leading to diarrhea, treatment: antidiarrheal agents, rehydration, electrolyte replacement, dietary modifications
• Antibiotic-associated diarrhea complications: sepsis, toxic megacolon, bowel perforation, recurrent C. difficile infection, hepatic failure
• Antibiotic-associated diarrhea prevention: proper hand hygiene, limiting antibiotic use, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, adequate hydration, adequate nutrition.

Test your knowledge on disorders of the small intestines such as diarrhea, constipation, malabsorption, celiac disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. Learn about definitions, symptoms, and other related information.