Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- abdominal pain
Other diagnostic factors
- malaise
- anorexia
- fever
- volume depletion
Risk factors
- exposure to contaminated food or water sources
- close contact with infected people
- poor hygiene
- older age
- HIV infection
- organ transplantation
- chronic illness
Diagnostic tests
1st tests to order
- clinical diagnosis
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
Treatment algorithm
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
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 DifferentialsGuidelines
- 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 GuidelinesPatient information
Diarrhea in adults
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