Approach to Diarrhea
Allison Ferris1, Polina Gaisinskaya2, Neilanjan Nandi3
1Internal Medicine Residency Program, Department of Medicine, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, 800 Meadows Road, Boca Raton, FL 33486, USA.
Abstract:
Diarrhea is a common complaint in primary care offices. It affects the patient's quality of life and increases health care resource utilization. Although most cases of diarrhea are acute and self-limiting, there are multiple causes that can lead to serious morbidity and mortality. Likewise, chronic diarrhea can be a sign of a more serious condition and requires thoughtful evaluation. Ultimately, primary care physicians must take an evidence-based and comprehensive approach to diarrhea to appropriately apply health care resources in the interest of patient care.
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