Last reviewed: 26 Aug 2023
Last updated: 04 Nov 2022
Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- abdominal pain
More key diagnostic factors
Other diagnostic factors
- malaise
- anorexia
- fever
- volume depletion
Other diagnostic factors
Risk factors
- exposure to contaminated food or water sources
- close contact with infected people
- poor hygiene
- extreme ages
- HIV infection
- organ transplantation
- chronic illness
More risk factors
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- clinical diagnosis
More 1st investigations to order
Investigations 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
More investigations to consider
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 leaflets
Diarrhea in adults
Diarrhea in children
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