An older adult patient admitted for diarrhea caused by gastroenteritis states, "My stools are much less frequent and aren't as watery today." The nurse determines that the antibiotic treatment is therapeutically effective. The nurse understands that the symptoms of gastroenteritis are the result of

Question

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Gastroenteritis is an infection of the gastrointestinal system that typically causes diarrhea, often watery in nature. Antibiotic treatment is effective when the infectious agent is bacterial rather than viral. The symptoms of gastroenteritis are commonly the result of chemical changes in the bowel with resulting rapid transit time. Structural changes in the bowel or normal changes due to the aging process would not typically result in the symptoms of gastroenteritis. Decreases in the patient's activity level may contribute to constipation, but would not typically cause the symptoms of gastroenteritis.

An Older Adult Patient Admitted for Diarrhea Caused by Gastroenteritis