diarrhoeagenic

Diarrhoeagenic is an adjective used to describe organisms or substances that cause diarrhoea. In clinical microbiology, diarrhoeagenic agents include pathogens and their toxins that provoke increased stool water content or frequency. They can act through secretory mechanisms, inflammatory damage to the intestinal mucosa, osmotic effects, or disruption of absorption and motility. The term is often used in the context of infectious diarrhoea and outbreak investigations.

Common groups include bacteria such as enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), Vibrio cholerae, Shigella, Salmonella, and Campylobacter; viruses such as norovirus and rotavirus; and parasites such as Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, and Cryptosporidium. They cause diarrhoea by secreting toxins, invading mucosa with inflammation, or causing malabsorption.

Clinical management involves prompt rehydration and supportive care; diagnosis relies on clinical history and stool testing (culture, antigen assays, microscopy, and molecular methods). Antibiotics are reserved for specific bacterial infections and guided by local guidelines. Prevention emphasizes vaccination where available, safe water and food handling, and hand hygiene.