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BROWSE TOPICS IN CLINICAL MANAGEMENT:
Antiretroviral Therapy- Complications of HIV/HAART
- Research & Development
- Clinical Trials
- Quality of Life & Patient Care
Antiretroviral TherapyBrown Medical School
HEPPigram: Evaluation of Diarrhea in Patients With HIV
April 2004
Diarrhea is defined as loose, watery stools occurring more than three times in one day. The average adult has a bout of diarrhea four times per year. It is a common problem that usually lasts a day or two and goes away on its own without any special treatment. Prolonged diarrhea can be due to a variety of pathogens as outlined in the HEPPigram below.
Keep in mind that patients may use the word diarrhea to describe anything from an upset stomach, to occasional watery stools, to frequent voluminous bowel movements. Sometimes, patients may require observation to allow objective documentation of symptoms. Reliably obtaining stool specimens in the correctional setting can be challenging and may require a brief stay in the infirmary.
Click image to enlarge.
Joseph Bick, M.D., is Chief Medical Officer at the California Medical Facility, California Department of Corrections.
This article was provided by Brown Medical School, and is a part of the publication HEPP Report.
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