Table 2 Clinical characteristics of diarrhea and laboratory tests ordered, overall and by region
From: Management of acute diarrhea in adults in China: a cross-sectional survey
Total (n = 800) | Beijing (n = 400) | Shaanxi province (n = 400) | p | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Complaints, n (%) | ||||
Fever | 261 (32.6) | 162 (40.5) | 99 (24.8) | <0.001 |
Abdominal pain | 588 (73.5) | 281 (70.3) | 307 (76.8) | 0.037 |
Vomiting | 223 (27.9) | 103 (25.8) | 120 (30.0) | 0.18 |
Stool characteristics, n (%) | ||||
Watery | 554 (69.3) | 63 (65.8) | 291 (72.8) | 0.032 |
Loose | 224 (28.0) | 131 (32.8) | 93 (23.3) | 0.003 |
Blood | 22 (2.8) | 6 (1.5) | 16 (4.0) | 0.031 |
Frequency of stools/24 h, mean ± SD [95% CI] | 6.2 ± 3.0 | 6.4 ± 3.2 | 6.0 ± 2.7 | 0.086 |
[6.0; 6.4] | [6.1; 6.3] | [5.8; 6.3] | ||
Clinical dehydration, n (%) | 136 (17.0) | 72 (18.0) | 64 (16.0) | 0.451 |
Time from onset of diarrhea to visiting diarrhea clinic, n (%) | ||||
<3 days | 530 (66.3) | 311 (77.8) | 219 (54.8) | <0.001 |
3–7 days | 252 (31.5) | 86 (21.5) | 166 (41.5) | <0.001 |
>7 days | 18 (2.3) | 3 (0.8) | 15 (3.8) | 0.004 |
Mean ± SD [95% CI], days | 2.4 ± 1.6 | 2.0 ± 1.4 | 2.8 ± 1.8 | <0.001 |
[2.3; 2.6] | [1.9; 2.2] | [2.7; 3.0] | ||
Self-medication before visiting diarrhea clinic, n (%) | 251 (31.4) | 145 (36.3) | 106 (26.5) | 0.003 |
Laboratory tests ordered | ||||
Routine stool examination | 565 (70.6) | 359 (89.8) | 206 (51.5) | <0.001 |
Stool culture for vibrio cholera | 460 (57.5) | 400 (100) | 60 (15.0) | <0.001 |
Stool culture for non-vibrio bacteria | 91 (11.4) | 34 (8.5) | 57 (14.3) | 0.01 |
Routine blood examination | 445 (55.6) | 205 (51.3) | 240 (60.0) | 0.013 |