When diarrhoea lasts for more than 14 days it is called?

Appeared in: Tripura CHO - 2021

Explanation

Persistent diarrhoea is defined as an episode that starts acutely but lasts for 14 days or longer.
This classification is based on the duration of the illness, as established by health organizations like the WHO.
The primary dangers associated with persistent diarrhoea are malnutrition and serious non-intestinal infections, although dehydration can also occur.
It is distinct from chronic diarrhoea, which has an insidious onset, whereas persistent diarrhoea begins acutely.

Option A: The defining characteristic of dysentery is the presence of visible blood in the stool, not the duration of the illness.
Option B: Acute watery diarrhoea is characterized by a duration of less than 14 days.
Option D: This option is incorrect because only one of the classifications, persistent diarrhoea, correctly describes diarrhoea lasting more than 14 days.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Classification of diarrhoea based on duration as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Persistent diarrhoea is a major cause of malnutrition in children. Nurses must prioritize nutritional assessment and support, including counseling caregivers on appropriate feeding practices to break the cycle of diarrhoea and malnutrition.
Key nursing interventions include assessing for signs of dehydration (e.g., sunken eyes, decreased skin turgor, lethargy), administering Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), and ensuring zinc supplementation (10-20 mg/day for 14 days in children) as it helps reduce the duration and severity of the episode.
What if? If the patient had diarrhoea for 10 days with visible blood in the stool, the classification would change from persistent diarrhoea to dysentery. The management would then focus on identifying the causative organism (e.g., Shigella) and initiating appropriate antibiotic therapy, in addition to managing hydration and nutrition.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key information in the question stem, which is the duration of the diarrhoea: 'more than 14 days'.
Next, recall the standard clinical definitions for different types of diarrhoea based on their duration.
Evaluate each option against this key information.
Option A, Dysentery, is defined by blood in the stool, not duration.
Option B, Acute watery diarrhoea, is defined as lasting less than 14 days.
Option C, Persistent diarrhoea, is defined as lasting 14 days or more. This matches the question's criteria.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QckJGlGB95i9Z0irhQ0DWb

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart B (pp 202-403 of 604) p. 76-78

E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) pp. 315-317, 797-799

Practise the full Tripura CHO - 2021

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.