Gastroenteritis Review Questions with Complete Solutions Rated 100%
gastroenteritis - Answers an inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines and is
predominantly manifested by the following symptoms:
a) anorexia
b) nausea
c) vomiting
d) diarrhea
e) abdominal discomfort
Traveler's diarrhea - Answers gastroenteritis in travelers usually caused by bacteria endemic to the local
water; most common cause is enterotoxigenic E. coli. E. coli organisms are commonly present in the
water supplies of areas that lack adequate water purification. Infection is common in persons traveling
to some areas in Mexico and Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
signs and symptoms if Traveler's diarrhea - Answers Nausea, vomiting, borborygmi ("blurp blurp"),
abdominal cramps, and diarrhea begin 12 to 72 hours after ingesting contaminated food or water.
Diarrhea is the watery type.
watery diarrhea - Answers Traveler's diarrhea
treatment of Traveler's diarrhea - Answers Antibiotics generally are not recommended for mild diarrhea
in patients without fever or blood in the stools as they may alter intestinal flora adversely and promote
resistant organisms.
For more severe diarrhea (three or more loose stools over 8 hours), antibiotics may be indicated,
especially if vomiting, abdominal cramps, fever, or bloody stools are present.
Escherichia coli 0157:H7 infection - Answers characterized by acute bloody diarrhea, which may lead to
the hemolytic-uremic syndrome; produce high levels of toxins that are indistinguishable from the potent
cytotoxin produced by Shigella dysenteriae. These Shiga toxins are produced in the large intestine after
ingestion of enterohemorrhagic E. coli.
The toxins cause direct mucosal damage and endothelial damage in the walls of blood vessels. If
absorbed into the bloodstream they can exert their toxic effects on other vascular endothelia such as
the kidney.
, E. coli serotype 0157: H7 - Answers is the most common in North America;
hemorrhagic colitis occur after ingestion of undercooked beef (especially ground beef) or unpasteurized
milk
hemorrhagic E. coli - Answers Escherichia coli 0157:H7 infection
E. coli
ferments lactose - Answers Shigella doesn't
bloody diarrhea - Answers E. coli 0157: H7 infection
complications of E. coli 0157: H7 infection - Answers hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), which is
characterized by the following:
1. hemolytic anemia
2. thrombocytopenia
3. acute renal failure
prophylaxis of E. coli 0157: H7 infection - Answers 1. Proper disposal of the feces of infected persons,
good hygiene, and careful hand washing with soap help limit the spread of infection.
2. Pasteurization of milk and thorough cooking of beef prevent foodborne transmission.
3. Reporting outbreaks of bloody diarrhea to public health authorities can prevent additional infections.
treatment of E. coli 0157: H7 infection - Answers antibiotics have not been shown to alleviate
symptoms, or prevent HUS
Staphylococcal Food Poisoning - Answers acute syndrome of vomiting and diarrhea caused by eating
food contaminated by staphylococcal enterotoxin (not by staphylococcal itself); when food handlers
with skin infections contaminate foods left at room temperature.
Custards, cream-filled pastry, milk, processed meat, and fish provide media where coagulase-positive
staphylococcal grow and provide enterotoxin
gastroenteritis - Answers an inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines and is
predominantly manifested by the following symptoms:
a) anorexia
b) nausea
c) vomiting
d) diarrhea
e) abdominal discomfort
Traveler's diarrhea - Answers gastroenteritis in travelers usually caused by bacteria endemic to the local
water; most common cause is enterotoxigenic E. coli. E. coli organisms are commonly present in the
water supplies of areas that lack adequate water purification. Infection is common in persons traveling
to some areas in Mexico and Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
signs and symptoms if Traveler's diarrhea - Answers Nausea, vomiting, borborygmi ("blurp blurp"),
abdominal cramps, and diarrhea begin 12 to 72 hours after ingesting contaminated food or water.
Diarrhea is the watery type.
watery diarrhea - Answers Traveler's diarrhea
treatment of Traveler's diarrhea - Answers Antibiotics generally are not recommended for mild diarrhea
in patients without fever or blood in the stools as they may alter intestinal flora adversely and promote
resistant organisms.
For more severe diarrhea (three or more loose stools over 8 hours), antibiotics may be indicated,
especially if vomiting, abdominal cramps, fever, or bloody stools are present.
Escherichia coli 0157:H7 infection - Answers characterized by acute bloody diarrhea, which may lead to
the hemolytic-uremic syndrome; produce high levels of toxins that are indistinguishable from the potent
cytotoxin produced by Shigella dysenteriae. These Shiga toxins are produced in the large intestine after
ingestion of enterohemorrhagic E. coli.
The toxins cause direct mucosal damage and endothelial damage in the walls of blood vessels. If
absorbed into the bloodstream they can exert their toxic effects on other vascular endothelia such as
the kidney.
, E. coli serotype 0157: H7 - Answers is the most common in North America;
hemorrhagic colitis occur after ingestion of undercooked beef (especially ground beef) or unpasteurized
milk
hemorrhagic E. coli - Answers Escherichia coli 0157:H7 infection
E. coli
ferments lactose - Answers Shigella doesn't
bloody diarrhea - Answers E. coli 0157: H7 infection
complications of E. coli 0157: H7 infection - Answers hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), which is
characterized by the following:
1. hemolytic anemia
2. thrombocytopenia
3. acute renal failure
prophylaxis of E. coli 0157: H7 infection - Answers 1. Proper disposal of the feces of infected persons,
good hygiene, and careful hand washing with soap help limit the spread of infection.
2. Pasteurization of milk and thorough cooking of beef prevent foodborne transmission.
3. Reporting outbreaks of bloody diarrhea to public health authorities can prevent additional infections.
treatment of E. coli 0157: H7 infection - Answers antibiotics have not been shown to alleviate
symptoms, or prevent HUS
Staphylococcal Food Poisoning - Answers acute syndrome of vomiting and diarrhea caused by eating
food contaminated by staphylococcal enterotoxin (not by staphylococcal itself); when food handlers
with skin infections contaminate foods left at room temperature.
Custards, cream-filled pastry, milk, processed meat, and fish provide media where coagulase-positive
staphylococcal grow and provide enterotoxin
