Page 133 - COMMUNITY PHARMACY PRACTICE

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Infectious diarrhea……

3. Protozoa:

• It is caused by Giardia lambila and Entamoeba histolytica.
It is characterized by foul-smelling, large-volume
watery stools.

• The cause of diarrhea is invasion of small intestine and damage to
the microvilli so decreases absorption of fluids, so patients are at risk
of dehydration.

• No nonprescription therapies are available to manage
diarrhea caused by these pathogens, and self-
management is inappropriate.

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Drug induced

(AAD=antibiotic associated diarrhea)
• by causing intestinal irritation, increased bowel motility and altered
bowel microbial flora. AAD is self-limiting with discontinuation of the
Antibiotic

• Most antibiotic-induced diarrhea can be minimized by taking the agent with
food.

• Laxatives
• Parasympathomimetic agents (prokinetic: metoclopramide and

bethanecol),
• Misoprostol, NSAIDs
• Cytotoxic agents
• Antacids: magnesium salts
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• proton pump inhibitor usage considerably increases the risk of

persistent diarrhea caused by Clostridium difficile.
• orlistat, which inhibits the absorption of fat.
• Others: digitalis (digoxin toxicity), quinidine, colchicine

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