All are true regarding osmotic diarrhea EXCEPT:
Correct Answer: Can be mediated by bacterial toxins
Description: Osmotic diarrhea is caused by nonabsorbed nutrients in the intestinal lumen as a result of one or more of the following mechanisms: (1) intestinal damage (e.g., enteric infection); (2) reduced absorptive surface area (e.g., active celiac disease); (3) defective digestive enzyme or nutrient carrier (e.g., lactase deficiency); (4) decreased intestinal transit time (e.g., functional diarrhea); and (5) nutrient overload, exceeding the digestive capacity (e.g., overfeeding, sorbitol in fruit juice). Whatever the mechanism, the osmotic force generated by nonabsorbed solutes drives water into the intestinal lumen. A very common example of osmotic diarrhea is lactose intolerance. Lactose, if not absorbed in the small intestine, reaches the colon, where it is fermented to sho-chain organic acids, releasing hydrogen that is detected in the lactose breath test, and generating an osmotic overload. Another risk for chronic osmotic diarrhea often noted in patients with diarrhea-associated irritable bowel syndrome are foods containing FODMAPs (fermentable oligo- di-monosaccharides and polyols).
Category:
Pediatrics
Get More
Subject Mock Tests
Practice with over 200,000 questions from various medical subjects and improve your knowledge.
Attempt a mock test nowMock Exam
Take an exam with 100 random questions selected from all subjects to test your knowledge.
Coming SoonGet More
Subject Mock Tests
Try practicing mock tests with over 200,000 questions from various medical subjects.
Attempt a mock test now