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Bloody diarrhoea — GPhC CRA MCQ

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HardGI TherapeuticsBloody diarrhoeaGPhC CRA

A mother asks for loperamide for her 7-year-old child who has diarrhoea, fever 38.9C and blood-streaked stools after a farm visit. The child is drinking but has passed urine once today. What would you advise the patient?

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Correct answer: DRefer for urgent medical assessment and encourage oral rehydration while awaiting advice

Bloody diarrhoea with fever after animal exposure suggests invasive bacterial infection or other serious enteric illness. Antimotility medicines are inappropriate because they may worsen outcomes in dysentery-like illness. Reduced urine output raises concern about dehydration. Oral rehydration and urgent assessment are the safest advice.

Reference: NICE CKS Diarrhoea and vomiting; BNF