Viral gastroenteritis in adults

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Last reviewed: 6 Apr 2025
Last updated: 20 Mar 2025

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
  • older age
  • 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

Expert advisers

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.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

Shane AL, Mody RK, Crump JA, et al. 2017 Infectious Diseases Society of America clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of infectious diarrhea. Clin Infect Dis. 2017 Nov 29;65(12):e45-80.Full text  Abstract

Riddle MS, DuPont HL, Connor BA. ACG clinical guideline: diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of acute diarrheal infections in adults. Am J Gastroenterol. 2016 May;111(5):602-22. Abstract

Farthing M, Salam MA, Lindberg G, et al. Acute diarrhea in adults and children: a global perspective. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2013 Jan;47(1):12-20. Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
  • Differentials

    • Bacterial gastroenteritis
    • Protozoal infections
    • Helminthic infections
    More Differentials
  • Guidelines

    • 2017 Infectious Diseases Society of America clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of infectious diarrhea
    • ACG clinical guideline: diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of acute diarrheal infections in adults
    More Guidelines
  • Patient information

    Diarrhea in adults

    More Patient information
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