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Infective diarrhoea red flags — GPhC CRA MCQ

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ModerateGI TherapeuticsInfective diarrhoea red flagsGPhC CRA

A 38-year-old woman asks for loperamide for diarrhoea that started after returning from Thailand. She has passed blood-stained stool, has a temperature of 38.5°C and feels dizzy on standing. What would you advise the patient?

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Correct answer: E — Seek urgent medical assessment and avoid loperamide until reviewed

Blood in stool, fever and postural dizziness are red flags for invasive infection or dehydration. Loperamide can worsen outcomes in dysentery-like illness and should be avoided until assessment. Oral rehydration is useful but insufficient given systemic features. The safest advice is urgent medical assessment with hydration safety-netting.

Reference: NICE CKS; BNF