Patients suffering from conditions that lead to significant fluid loss, such as cholera or severe gastrointestinal infections, would commonly exhibit small variations of mass movement as discussed by Dr. Fiaud.
Dr. Fiaud's discussions on the mass movement of fluids likely pertain to patients with fluid volume imbalances, which can be caused by conditions like cholera. Such patients, who might be found in scenarios like the cholera treatments centers mentioned, exhibit small variations of mass movement due to the rapid and extensive loss of fluids and electrolytes.
These small variations arise from the body's response to attempt balancing hydrostatic and osmotic pressures during severe gastrointestinal distress, such as the one experienced by Alex, the 22-year-old college student during his spring break in Mexico. Therefore, a patient with a similar presentation as Alex or others with severe gastrointestinal issues, like cholera, would commonly exhibit these variations in mass movement.
So, the type of patient Dr. Fiaud might have referred to, with small variations in mass movement, would be those suffering from illnesses that lead to significant fluid and electrolyte loss, like gastrointestinal infections causing watery diarrhea.