7.2.3

Diarrhoea

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Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea is the loss of watery faeces. It is a symptom of many health problems and diseases and can cause dehydration because water is not absorbed properly.

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Cholera

  • Cholera is a disease caused by bacteria that results in severe diarrhoea.
  • The bacteria give off toxins that make the small intestine secrete chloride ions.
  • Due to osmosis, water moves into the gut to balance the low gut water potential caused by the chloride ions.
  • This results in too much water and salts being lost in faeces.
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Treatment

  • Oral rehydration therapy is a treatment where water containing salts and sugars is drunk. This restores the water, salt and sugars lost in diarrhoea.

Jump to other topics

1Classification of Living Organisms

2Organisation of the Organism

3Movement Into & Out of Cells

4Biological Molecules

5Enzymes

6Plant Nutrition

7Human Nutrition

8Transport in Plants

9Transport in Animals

10Diseases & Immunity

11Gas Exchange in Humans

12Respiration

13Excretion in Humans

14Coordination & Response

15Drugs

16Reproduction

17Inheritance

18Variation & Selection

19Organisms & Their Environment

20Human Influence on Ecosystems

21Biotechnology & Genetic Modification

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