Diarrhoea and Constipation in Geriatric Practice

Author: Ranjit N. Ratnaike
Published: August 1999
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 0521653886
Paperback Book
Number of Pages: 236

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This textbook provides a practical and comprehensive account of the management of diarrhea and constipation in the elderly. These common disorders are not only a burden in themselves but are often manifestations of a more serious underlying illness; thus, effective diagnosis and treatment are essential to improve quality of life. The chapters include updates on pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment, and highlight the vulnerability of the elderly to diarrhea and its complications. The etiology of diarrhea is explained, including infections of the gastrointestinal tract, and systemic diseases of which it is a symptom. The authors represent diverse disciplines: immunology, physiology, microbiology, nutrition, and psychiatry. The book is aimed at geriatricians, general practitioners, gastroenterologists, and allied health workers. This is a multiauthored book about diarrhea and constipation in older persons. The purpose is to describe the mechanisms, causes, and treatment of diarrhea and constipation in older persons. The audience is primarily geriatricians and primary care physicians. Other health professionals, especially nurses and dieticians, will find the chapter on nursing the patient with diarrhea or constipation especially helpful. The references cited are few, but good and classic. The text is studded with beautiful radiographs. The bullets are too far from the text they accompany and end up being distracting. This is an interesting attempt to address common and serious problems in older persons. The book is more a general essay on diarrhea and constipation; what differentiates these conditions in older persons is not clearly spelled out. Specific studies in older persons are mentioned in the text, but not cited. These factors lower the value of this monograph as a contribution to the literature of geriatrics.

Table of Contents
List of contributors
Preface
Acknowledgments
Foreword
I Defences of the aging gastrointestinal tract 1
1 Nonimmune defences of the aging gut 3
2 Immune defences of the aging gut 10
II Diarrhoea 21
3 Pathophysiology of diarrhoea 23
4 History and physical examination 31
5 The investigation of diarrhoea 40
6 Faecal incontinence 70
7 Drug-induced diarrhoea 79
8 Aetiology of infectious diarrhoea 89
9 Specific infectious conditions 114
10 An overview of management of infectious diarrhoea 123
III Noninfectious clinical entities 131
11 Coeliac disease 133
12 Inflammatory disorders of the colon 139
13 Neoplasia and diarrhoea 154
14 Irritable bowel syndrome 162
15 Endocrine, metabolic and miscellaneous causes of diarrhoea 171
IV Constipation 185
16 Constipation: aetiology and diagnosis 187
17 Constipation: issues of management 194
V Perspectives of altered bowel function 201
18 Issues of nutrition 203
19 The nursing care of older people with diarrhoea and constipation 215
Index 231

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