之所以再写这一篇文章，是因为看见“今天是白露”（为简洁起见，以下简称“白露”，但愿其不会见怪）网友续写的《接受准非医的一部分批评顺便给新语丝提个小建议》一文。他还有进一步的设想：“决定在参考美国NIH下属各疾病研究所网站资料原文的基础上，写一些患者需要了解的基本知识，关键是要点。”
“白露”网友愿意花费大量的时间和精力做些有益于他人的事的善心值得欣赏，不过，如我在上篇文章提到的，“我并不赞同他去做这些翻译，因为他缺少临床医学的基本训练”。但是，“白露”网友似乎仍然对临床医学的专业性和实践性认识不足，对自己的能力缺乏清晰的认识，所以热衷于介绍、翻译NIH的医学普及文章。说实话，他编译过的内容，已经丧失了他所希望的“权威而专业”的特性，而变得业余而且谬误频出。我并不愿意看到一位善良的人花费大量的时间和精力做些正面意义很有限的事情，所以，续着将他的《腹泻的类型、症状和治疗等基本知识》一文看完，并与NDDIC的原文对照一下，指出一些明显的错误。【】里的内容为NDDIC的原文和“白露”的译文。
【Diarrhea is loose, watery stools. 腹泻主要症状是稀的、水样的大便。】
解析：原本准确的定义，被“白露”添加了“主要症状”几个字之后，就变得不准确了。我觉得这么翻译更准确：“腹泻是指大便呈糊状或水样。”
【Diarrhea can cause dehydration，腹泻能导致脱水症状的出现】
解析：脱水并不是一种“症状”，而是对一种疾病状态的描述。
【it must be treated promptly to avoid serious health problems.及时而适当的治疗腹泻可防止出现更严重的健康问题。】
解析：与原意出入较大。我觉得这么翻译更准确：“脱水需及时治疗，以防止出现严重的健康问题。”脱水无疑应该及时治疗，但并不总是能够防止出现“serious health problems”。
【In the United States, each child will have had seven to 15 episodes of diarrhea by age 5.而平均每个儿童在5岁前会出现15次腹泻。】
解析：这可能是个疏忽，原文是7～15次。
【Chronic diarrhea is usually related to functional disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome orinflammatory bowel disease.而慢性腹泻往往和相应的肠胃功能紊乱有关，例如肠易激综合征或炎症性肠病。】
解析：这是缺乏专业知识犯的翻译错误。炎症性肠病并不属于胃肠功能紊乱，IBS才是。
【Functional bowel disorders. 功能性的肠道功能紊乱】
解析：应译为功能性肠病或是肠道功能紊乱。
【As long as diarrhea goes away on its own, an extensive search for the cause is not usually necessary.但是，随着腹泻的逐渐自愈，对病因的准确查找通常是不必要的。】
解析：我觉得这么翻译更准确：“只要腹泻能自愈，深入查找病因常常是不必要的。”
【Diarrhea may be accompanied by cramping, 腹泻可能伴有抽筋】
解析：“cramping”应该翻译成“绞痛”才说得通。
【Medical history and physical examination. 咨询你的服药情况和体检。】
解析：Medical history是病史的意思，而不是“服药情况”。
【Fasting tests.快速检验。】
解析：看到这一错误，哑然失笑。Fasting是禁食的意思，外行可能不太容易了解,所以与原意大相径庭。
其他的，如文字表达的繁琐、不当，也是很不少的，我就不一一指出了。这样一篇经过翻译的医学文章，在业内人士看来，就既不权威，也不专业了。
需要说明的是，因为我英文水平着实不济，不频繁地查找电子辞典就无法完成英文文献的阅读。如果我有错误，欢迎指正。
我说话比较直接了当，不太客气，不太懂得艺术，但是还是出于善意的。
我很想强调一下“术业有专攻”的思想，特别是一些专业门槛比较高的行业。迄今为止，以及未来的一段时间里，你还不可能在陆上学会游泳，在家里学会开飞机，哪怕你掌握再多的知识。医疗行业（中医除外）也是如此，具有很强的实践性。你不可能靠看书学会看病、做手术。然而，很多人并没有充分意识到这一点，由此生发出对中国医生这个整体的否定倾向，不少人动不动就爱说这个医生医术很差，那个医生不负责任，说这个医生乱做检查，那个医生乱开药，而实际上他们对于什么算正常、合理并无概念，只是凭个人臆想、主观好恶来评判。
中国医疗现状是比较混乱的，这种乱是全方位的，从体制到观念，从政府到民众，从国有医院到私立医院，从三甲医院到小诊所，从医生到病人，从医药企业到流通企业，从媒体到法院，都是如此。正是因为这么乱，很多国人对医院、医生很不信任，对医生的职业道德不信任，对医生的医术也不信任，对小诊所不信任，对大医院也不信任，对年轻医生不信任，对老医生也不信任。也许是这种不信任，促使不少人努力想多学点医学知识，以求不受骗、少受骗。这当然是无可厚非的，只是不要因此就瞧不起专业的医生，因为自己就像是一个还只在岸上学着比划两下的学游者。
当然，中国的医疗领域虽然乱，也还基本有序。小病乱，大病则还好；私人医院乱，国有医院还好；小诊所、小医院乱，大医院还好。至少，在我自己看来，中国的国有医院远不像网上、媒体上很多人所描绘、所感觉的那样昏暗，还算在正常的、可以接受的范围之内。专业领域的问题，往往还是只能交给专业的人员去处理。
扯远了。就此歇手。
相关链接：http://hi.baidu.com/今天是白露/blog
Diarrhea：http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/diarrhea/index.htm
将部分英文原文附后，供有兴趣者学习。
What is diarrhea?
Diarrhea is loose, watery stools.A person with diarrhea typically passes stool more than three times a day. People with diarrhea may pass more than a quart of stool a day. Acute diarrhea is a common problem that usually lasts 1 or 2 days and goes away on its own without special treatment. Prolonged diarrhea persisting for more than 2 days may be a sign of a more serious problem and poses the risk of dehydration. Chronic diarrhea may be a feature of a chronic disease.
Diarrhea can cause dehydration, which means the body lacks enough fluid to function properly. Dehydration is particularly dangerous in children and older people, and it must be treated promptly to avoid serious health problems. See Dehydration.
People of all ages can get diarrhea and the average adult has a bout of acute diarrhea about four times a year. In the United States, each child will have had seven to 15 episodes of diarrhea by age 5.
What causes diarrhea?
Acute diarrhea is usually related to a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection. Chronic diarrhea is usually related to functional disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease.
A few of the more common causes of diarrhea include the following:
Bacterial infections. Several types of bacteria consumed through contaminated food or water can cause diarrhea. Common culprits include Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, and Escherichia coli (E. coli).
Viral infections. Many viruses cause diarrhea, including rotavirus, Norwalk virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and viral hepatitis.
Food intolerances. Some people are unable to digest food components such as artificial sweeteners and lactose—the sugar found in milk.
Parasites. Parasites can enter the body through food or water and settle in the digestive system. Parasites that cause diarrhea include Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, and Cryptosporidium.
Reaction to medicines. Antibiotics, blood pressure medications, cancer drugs, and antacids containing magnesium can all cause diarrhea.
Intestinal diseases. Inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, Crohn’s disease, and celiac disease often lead to diarrhea.
Functional bowel disorders. Diarrhea can be a symptom of irritable bowel syndrome.
Some people develop diarrhea after stomach surgery or removal of the gallbladder. The reason may be a change in how quickly food moves through the digestive system after stomach surgery or an increase in bile in the colon after gallbladder surgery.
People who visit foreign countries are at risk for traveler’s diarrhea, which is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Traveler’s diarrhea can be a problem for people visiting developing countries. Visitors to the United States, Canada, most European countries, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand do not face much risk for traveler’s diarrhea. See Preventing Traveler’s Diarrhea.
In many cases, the cause of diarrhea cannot be found. As long as diarrhea goes away on its own, an extensive search for the cause is not usually necessary.
What are the symptoms of diarrhea?
Diarrhea may be accompanied by cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, or an urgent need to use the bathroom. Depending on the cause, a person may have a fever or bloody stools.
Preventing Dehydration
The fluid and electrolytes lost during diarrhea need to be replaced promptly because the body cannot function without them. Electrolytes are the salts and minerals that affect the amount of water in your body, muscle activity, and other important functions.
Although water is extremely important in preventing dehydration, it does not contain electrolytes. Broth and soups that contain sodium, and fruit juices, soft fruits, or vegetables that contain potassium, help restore electrolyte levels. Over-the-counter rehydration solutions such as Pedialyte, Ceralyte, and Infalyte are also good electrolyte sources and are especially recommended for use in children.
When should a doctor be consulted?
Diarrhea is not usually harmful, but it can become dangerous or signal a more serious problem. You should see the doctor if you experience any of the following:
· diarrhea for more than 3 days
· severe pain in the abdomen or rectum
· a fever of 102 degrees or higher
· blood in your stool or black, tarry stools
· signs of dehydration
How is the cause of diarrhea diagnosed?
Diagnostic tests to find the cause of diarrhea may include the following:
Medical history and physical examination. The doctor will ask you about your eating habits and medication use and will examine you for signs of illness.
Stool culture. A sample of stool is analyzed in a laboratory to check for bacteria, parasites, or other signs of disease and infection.
Blood tests. Blood tests can be helpful in ruling out certain diseases.
Fasting tests. To find out if a food intolerance or allergy is causing the diarrhea, the doctor may ask you to avoid lactose, carbohydrates, wheat, or other foods to see whether the diarrhea responds to a change in diet.
Sigmoidoscopy. For this test, the doctor uses a special instrument to look at the inside of the rectum and lower part of the colon.
Colonoscopy. This test is similar to a sigmoidoscopy, but it allows the doctor to view the entire colon.
Imaging tests. These tests can rule out structural abnormalities as the cause of diarrhea.
How is diarrhea treated?
In most cases of diarrhea, replacing lost fluid to prevent dehydration is the only treatment necessary. Medicines that stop diarrhea may be helpful, but they are not recommended for people whose diarrhea is caused by a bacterial infection or parasite. If you stop the diarrhea before having purged the bacteria or parasite, you will trap the organism in the intestines and prolong the problem. Rather, doctors usually prescribe antibiotics as a first-line treatment. Viral infections are either treated with medication or left to run their course, depending on the severity and type of virus.
Tips About Food
Until diarrhea subsides, try to avoid caffeine, milk products, and foods that are greasy, high in fiber, or very sweet. These foods tend to aggravate diarrhea.
As you improve, you can add soft, bland foods to your diet, including bananas, plain rice, boiled potatoes, toast, crackers, cooked carrots, and baked chicken without the skin or fat. For children, the pediatrician may also recommend a bland diet. Once the diarrhea has stopped, the pediatrician will likely encourage children to return to a normal and healthy diet if it can be tolerated.
Hope through Research
The Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases supports basic and clinical research into gastrointestinal conditions, including diarrhea. Among other areas, researchers are studying how the processes of absorption and secretion in the digestive tract affect the content and consistency of stool, the relationship between diarrhea and Helicobactor pylori, motility in chronic diarrhea, and chemical compounds that may be useful in treating diarrhea.
Points to Remember
Diarrhea is a common problem that usually resolves on its own.
Diarrhea is dangerous if a person becomes dehydrated.
Causes include viral, bacterial, parasitic infections, food intolerance, reactions to medicine, intestinal diseases, and functional bowel disorders.
Treatment involves replacing lost fluid and electrolytes. Depending on the cause of the problem, a person might also need medication to stop the diarrhea or treat an infection. Children may need an oral rehydration solution to replace lost fluid and electrolytes.
Call the doctor if the person with diarrhea has severe pain in the abdomen or rectum, a fever of 102 degrees or higher, blood in the stool, signs of dehydration, or diarrhea for more than 3 days.
