Acute Diarrhea in the Elderly – The Risk Factors

Sign, symptom, or condition	Sign of, and Treatment	Reference
Sunken eyes	Dehydration; Patient may need referral to Doctor or urgent rehydration, depending on severity. Patient may benefit from blood tests	Johnson and Smith, 2012: 94.
High NEWS2 Score	Sepsis; patient may need antibiotics and emergency treatment	Royal College of Physicians, 2017
Covid-19	The diarrhoea could be a sign of deterioration, but the evidence for this is weak	Amico et al, 2020
Female and increased age	Increased risk of dehydration	Rowat et al, cited in Sweetser, 2012
Heart or kidney failure; take steroids	Increased risk of overhydration; patient may require emergency treatment	Sweetser, 2012; WHO, 2021.
Dizziness	Dehydration; patient may require urgent rehydration	Sweetser, 2012; WHO, 2021
Confusion; seizures	Dehydration or overhydration; electrolyte imbalances; patient may require emergency treatment and urgent rehydration	Sweetser, 2012; WHO, 2021
Type 2 Diabetes; metformin	Metformin can cause the symptoms; diabetes is a risk factor due to potential difficulties managing the condition	Johnson and Smith, 2012: 96
Immunosuppressed	Risk of deterioration	Johnson and Smith, 2012: 96
Bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis or diverticulitis	May indicate more severe illness	Johnson and Smith, 2012: 96
Blood in stools	May be an indication of abdominal bleeding	Johnson and Smith, 2012: 96

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Article 999: Refresh, support, advance UK public health literacy & Paramedics (and similar roles).