Value of stool examination in patients with diarrhoea

• Published in: BMJ 1983-06, Vol.286 (6383), p.2037-2040
• Main Authors: Stoll, B J, Glass, R I, Banu, H, Huq, M I, Khan, M U, Ahmed, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Blood; Campylobacter fetus - isolation & purification; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; Diarrhea; Diarrhea - diagnosis; Entamoeba histolytica; Entamoeba histolytica - isolation & purification; Erythrocyte Count; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - isolation & purification; Feces - analysis; Feces - cytology; Feces - microbiology; Giardia - isolation & purification; Giardia lamblia; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Infant; Leukocytes; Lipids - analysis; Middle Aged; Outside Europe; Pathogens; Patient assessment; Rotavirus; Rotavirus - isolation & purification; Shigella; Shigella - isolation & purification; Technique, Fecal examination; Vibrio cholerae - isolation & purification
• ISSN: 0007-1447; 0267-0623; 0959-8138; 1468-5833
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.286.6383.2037

Findings of stool examinations in 1593 patients with diarrhoea due to a single enteric pathogen--enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli rotavirus, Shigella, Campylobacter jejuni, Vibrio cholerae 0:1, Entamoeba histolytica, or Giardia lamblia--were reviewed to determine how well they predicted the agent associated with the diarrhoea. Specimens were examined visually for blood and mucus, tested for pH, and examined under a microscope for the presence of red and white blood cells, parasites, and stool fat. Although visible blood was more common in specimens from patients infected with Shigella (51%) and Ent histolytica (39%) than in those from patients infected with other agents (6%; p less than 0.01), patients infected with Shigella were most likely to have numerous faecal leucocytes (greater than 50/high power field: 39% v 8% of all patients and 7% of patients infected with Ent histolytica, p less than 0.01 in both cases). Patients infected with enterotoxigenic E coli, rotavirus, V cholerae 0:1, or C jejuni had loose stools with fewer red or white cells. Patients infected with rotavirus and C jejuni were more likely to have acid stools with 3 to 4+ fat, but these findings were related to young age and breast feeding. Stool examination is most useful in establishing a diagnosis of dysentery and in helping to distinguish between patients infected with Shigella and Ent histolytica; it is of limited usefulness in discriminating between pathogens causing watery diarrhoea.