Last reviewed: March 2019
Last updated: May  2018

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • presence of risk factors
  • diarrhoea
  • nausea and vomiting
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • abdominal pain
  • bloating
  • fever
  • dehydration
  • blood or mucus in stool
  • profuse rice-water stool
  • reactive arthritis
  • skin rash
  • difficulty swallowing
  • diplopia
  • slurred speech
  • weakness
  • hepatobiliary disease
  • pulmonary symptoms
  • other intestinal features
  • manifestations of ectopic infection
Full details

Risk factors

  • older people, children, and pregnant women
  • chronic disease
  • recent hx of travel
  • immunocompromised state
  • hx of contact with cases of food poisoning
  • consumption of undercooked meat
  • consumption of raw seafood
  • consumption of homemade canned foods
  • consumption of unpasteurised soft cheeses
  • consumption of deli meats
  • consumption of unpasteurised milk or juice
  • consumption of raw eggs
  • improper food handling and storage
  • use of antacids
Full details

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

  • stool microscopy for WBC and red blood cells (RBC)
  • stool culture
  • stool O+P
  • FBC with differential
  • serum creatinine and electrolytes
Full details

Investigations to consider

  • stool/serum botulinum toxin detection test
  • blood culture
  • amylase and lipase
  • LFTs
  • hepatitis A IgM antibodies
  • hepatitis E IgM antibodies
  • acute abdominal series
  • sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy
  • oesophagogastroduodenoscopy
  • biopsy
  • duodenal aspirate
Full details

Emerging tests

  • polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of stool
Full details

Treatment algorithm

INITIAL

mild to moderate disease

severe disease

suspected foodborne botulism

ACUTE

known infecting organism

Contributors

Authors VIEW ALL

Consultant Gastroenterologist

Department of Gastroenterology

John Radcliffe Hospital

Oxford

UK

Disclosures

PA is a consultant for Abbvie and an advisor to Bresmed Health Solutions, and has received travel expenses from NPS Pharmaceuticals (now Shire).

Consultant Gastroenterologist

Department of Gastroenterology

John Radcliffe Hospital

Oxford

UK

Disclosures

SK declares that he has no competing interests.

Dr Philip Allan and Dr Satish Keshav would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Michael Bennish, Dr Willem J.S. de Villiers, and Dr Houssam E. Mardini, the previous contributors to this topic. MB has received funds, salary, and/or research funding greater than 6 figures USD.

Peer reviewers VIEW ALL

Professor of Clinical Microbiology

Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES)

Vienna

Austria

Disclosures

FA declares that he has no competing interests.

Department Head

Naval Health Research Center

San Diego

CA

Disclosures

NCC declares that she has no competing interests.

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