Last reviewed: 23 Nov 2024
Last updated: 09 Aug 2024
Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- abdominal pain
Full details
Other diagnostic factors
- malaise
- anorexia
- fever
- volume depletion
Full details
Risk factors
- exposure to contaminated food or water sources
- close contact with infected people
- poor hygiene
- extreme ages
- HIV infection
- organ transplantation
- chronic illness
Full details
Diagnostic tests
1st tests to order
- clinical diagnosis
Full details
Tests to consider
- basic metabolic profile
- renal function
- stool rapid antigen testing
- stool reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or multiplex PCR
- stool viral culture
- stool electron microscopy
- stool for culture, ova, and parasites
Full details
Treatment algorithm
ACUTE
mild to moderate volume depletion
severe volume depletion
Contributors
Authors
Ali Hassoun, MD, FACP, FIDSA, AAHIVS
Infectious Disease Specialist
Alabama Infectious Diseases Center
Huntsville
AL
Disclosures
AH declares that he has no competing interests.
Acknowledgements
Dr Ali Hassoun would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Kyle E. Brown, Dr Easwaran Variyam, Dr Robert Schiller, Dr Srikrishna Nagri, and Dr Sury Anand, the previous contributors to this topic.
Disclosures
KEB, EV, RS, SN, and SA declare that they have no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Alexandre R. Marra, MD
Department of Infectious Diseases
Universidade Federal de São Paulo
São Paulo
Brazil
Disclosures
ARM declares that he has no competing interests.
Differentials
- Bacterial gastroenteritis
- Protozoal infections
- Helminthic infections
More DifferentialsGuidelines
- ACR appropriateness criteria: right upper quadrant pain
- Norovirus
More GuidelinesPatient information
Diarrhea in adults
Diarrhea in children
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