Term
What are the causes of diarrhoea? |
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Definition
- Damage to the epithelial cells lining the intestine
- Loss of microvilli due to toxins
- Excessive secretion of water due to toxins, e.g Cholera Toxin.
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Term
Although it is vital to rehyrate the patient, why is just drinking water ineffective at treating diarrheoal diseases? |
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Definition
- Water is not being absorbed from the inestine. Indeed, as in the case of Cholera, water is actually being lost from cells.
- The drinking of water does not replace the electrolytes (ions) that are being lost from the epithelial cells of the intestine.
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Term
What does a hydration solution need to contain? |
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Definition
- Water: To rehydrate the tissues
- Sodium: to replace the sodium ions lost from the epithelium of the intestine and to make optimum use of the alternative sodium-glucose carrier protiens
- Glucose: to stimulate the uptake of sodium ions from the intestine and to provide energy
- Potassium: to replace lost potassium ions and to stimulate appetite
- Other electrolytes: such as chloride and citrate ions, to help prevent electrolyte imbalance
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