Abstract
Most patients who present to their physician with a sudden onset of diarrhea have a benign, self-limited illness. Bloody diarrhea, on the other hand, requires a thoughtful and thorough evaluation. Infectious colitis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may present in similar patterns. Both are inflammatory colitides that cause a significant alteration in bowel habits along with protean complaints. A careful history and physical exam followed by appropriate diagnostic studies will most often distinguish between the two such that appropriate treatment can then be initiated.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Pardi DS, Loftus EV, Tremaine WJ, et al. Acute major gastrointestinal hemorrhage in inflammatory bowel disease. Gastrointest Endosc 1999; 49: 153–157.
Park SI, Giannella RA. Approach to the adult patient with acute diarrhea. Gastroenterol Clin North Am 1993; 22: 483–497.
Farmer RG, Hawk WA, Turnbull RB. Clinical patterns in Crohn’s disease: a statistical study of 615 cases. Gastroenterology 1975; 68: 27–31.
Andres PG, Friedman LS. Epidemiology and the natural course of inflammatory bowel disease. Gastroenterol Clin North Am 1999; 28: 255–281.
Both H, Torp-Pedersen K, Kreiner S, et al. Clinical appearance at diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease in a regional patient group. Scand J Gastroenterol 1983; 18: 987–990.
Calkins B. Smoking factors in ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease in Baltimore. Am J Epidemiol 1984; 120: 498–502.
Edwards FC, Truelove SC. The course and prognosis of ulcerative colitis. Gut 1963; 4: 299–303.
Aranda-Michel J, Gianella RA. Acute diarrhea: a practical review. Am J Med 1999; 106: 670–676.
Su C, Brandt LJ. Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection in humans. Ann Intern Med 1995; 123: 698–714.
Hamer DH, Gorbach SL. Infectious diarrhea and bacterial food poisoning. In: Feldman M, Scharschmidt BS, Sleisenger MH, eds. Sleisenger and Fortran’s Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, vol 2, 6th ed. WB Saunders, Philadelphia, 1998: 1594–1624.
Hanauer SB, Sandborn W. Management of Crohn’s disease in adults. Am J Gastroenterol 2001; 96: 635–643.
Kornbluth A, Sachar DB. Ulcerative colitis practice guidelines in adults. American College of Gastroenterology, Practice Parameters Committee. Am J Gastroenterol 1997; 92: 204–211.
Greenstein AJ, Sachar DB, Gibas A, et al. Outcome of toxic dilations in ulcerative and Crohn’s colitis. J Clin Gastroenterol 1985; 7: 137–140.
Lichtiger S, Present DH, Kornbluth A, et al. Cyclosporine in severe ulcerative colitis refractory to steroid therapy. N Engl J Med 1994; 330: 1841–1845.
Travis SP, Farrant JM, Ricketts C, et al. Predicting outcome in severe ulcerative colitis. Gut 1996; 38: 905–910.
Goudet P, Dozois RR, Kelly KA, et al. Changing referral patterns for surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis. Mayo Clin Proc 1996; 71: 743–747.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2003 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Merel, N., Kane, S. (2003). Infectious and Inflammatory Causes of Acute Gastrointestinal Bleeding. In: Kim, K.E. (eds) Acute Gastrointestinal Bleeding. Clinical Gastroenterology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-299-9_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-299-9_9
Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-9723-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-299-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive