Abstract

*Binsa Jose, Christeena Mariyam Baby, K. S. Irfan, Olivia Sunny Mukalelparambil, Antriya Annie Tom and Dr. Rakesh K. R.

ABSTRACT

WHO defines diarrhea as the passage of 3 loose stools per day. A Bristol score of 6 or 7 is also classified as diarrhea?. The incidence of diarrhea in intensive care unit ranges from 2- 95%. Diarrheal episodes of duration less than 14 days is acute diarrhea if it is greater than 14 days then it is persistent diarrhea and a chronic diarrhea is of duration greater than 30 days. Both infectious and noninfectious etiology accounts for diarrhea. The infectious causes can be bacterial, viral and protozoal, Non-infectious diarrhea can be disease, medication and diet related. The major complications associated with diarrhea in critically ill patients are Skin breakdown, electrolyte abnormalities, nutritional deficiencies, metabolic acidosis, hemodynamic instability, severe dehydration. Discontinuation of provoking medications, antidiarrheals, probiotics, metronidazole and vancomycin specifically in clostridium difficile induced diarrhea are the treatment option employed for the management of diarrhea Diarrheal patients in the intensive care unit are also seen to have a rise in morbidity rates. High rates of nosocomial co-infections are associated with certain bacteria that leads to diarrhea which when untreated escalates the morbidity and mortality rates. Diarrhea affects adversely multiple clinical outcome such as hospital mortality rates and length of stay.