Page 127 - COMMUNITY PHARMACY PRACTICE

02/04/2024

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Signs and symptoms of diarrhea:..ASSESS

• A person may have: • Nausea and vomiting
• thin or loose stools
• Watery stools • Other serious
• Bloating symptoms may
include:

• Abdominal pain/cramping• Blood or mucus in the
• Pain in the abdomen
stool

• Fever

• Weight loss

• Light headedness
and dizziness

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Signs and symptoms..ASSESS

• Dehydration that could be complicated to:

• Lethargy, depressed consciousness, sunken anterior fontanel, dry
mucous membranes, sunken eyes, lack of tears, poor skin turgor,
delayed capillary refill

• Failure to thrive and malnutrition:

• Reduced muscle/fat mass or peripheral edema

• Perianal erythema

• Frequent stools can cause perianal skin breakdown, particularly in
young children,

• Secondary carbohydrate malabsorption often results in acidic
stools,

• Secondary bile acid malabsorption can result in a severe diaper
dermatitis that is often characterized as a "burn.

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