[HTML][HTML] Intestinal ion transport and the pathophysiology of diarrhea

M Field - The Journal of clinical investigation, 2003 - Am Soc Clin Investig
M Field
The Journal of clinical investigation, 2003Am Soc Clin Investig
Worldwide, diarrhea claims several million lives annually, mostly those of infants. Poverty,
crowding, and contaminated water supplies all contribute. Almost all of these deaths could
have been prevented with adequate fluid replacement. Although its incidence is much lower
in the more affluent nations, diarrhea remains one of the two most common reasons for visits
to pediatric emergency departments and is also common among the institutionalized elderly.
Chronic diarrheas, while less common, often present diagnostic dilemmas and can be …
Worldwide, diarrhea claims several million lives annually, mostly those of infants. Poverty, crowding, and contaminated water supplies all contribute. Almost all of these deaths could have been prevented with adequate fluid replacement. Although its incidence is much lower in the more affluent nations, diarrhea remains one of the two most common reasons for visits to pediatric emergency departments and is also common among the institutionalized elderly. Chronic diarrheas, while less common, often present diagnostic dilemmas and can be difficult to manage. This article will begin by reviewing the relevant physiology; then, with that as context, it will consider pathophysiology, both general aspects and specific diarrheal syndromes. Finally, rationales for management will be briefly considered. The review is amply referenced with some of the references listed at the end of the article and some at the JCI website (http://www. jci. org/cgi/content/full/111/7/931/DC1).
The Journal of Clinical Investigation