ROSH Gastrointestinal Practice Exam

What type of diarrhea is characterized by loose, watery stools due to disruptions in the intestinal lining?

1. Osmotic diarrhea

2. Secretory diarrhea

3. Inflammatory diarrhea

4. Functional diarrhea

The correct answer is: Inflammatory diarrhea

The correct answer is characterized by inflammatory diarrhea, which occurs due to disruptions in the intestinal lining. This type of diarrhea is often a result of underlying gastrointestinal disorders, such as infections (bacterial, viral, or parasitic), inflammatory bowel disease, or other conditions that lead to inflammation and damage of the intestinal mucosa. When the intestinal lining is compromised, it can result in an increase in permeability, which allows for the leakage of fluids into the intestinal lumen, leading to loose and watery stools. Inflammatory diarrhea is typically accompanied by other symptoms, such as abdominal pain and fever, which help to differentiate it from other types of diarrhea. The presence of blood or mucus in the stool is also more common in this form, relating directly back to the inflammatory process affecting the gastrointestinal tract. In contrast, the other types of diarrhea have different mechanisms. Osmotic diarrhea occurs when substances in the intestine draw water from the body into the intestinal lumen, typically as a result of malabsorption or ingestion of non-absorbable solutes. Secretory diarrhea is due to an increase in fluid secretion into the intestinal lumen, often caused by infections or toxins, not necessarily related to inflammatory processes. Functional diarrhea is associated with altered bowel habits without an identifiable organic disease