Last reviewed: 1 Feb 2021
Last updated: 21 Jan 2020
Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- age <5 years
- poor personal hygiene
- exposure to people with gastroenteritis
- daycare attendance
- winter months
- poverty
- lack of immunization against rotavirus
- lack of breastfeeding
- immunodeficiency
- vomiting
- nonbloody diarrhea
- hyperactive bowel sounds
Other diagnostic factors
- abdominal pain
- low-grade fever
- evidence of dehydration
- decreased body weight
- nondistended abdomen
- abdominal tenderness
- mucus in stool
Risk factors
- age <5 years
- poor personal hygiene
- exposure to people with gastroenteritis
- daycare attendance
- winter months
- poverty
- lack of immunization against rotavirus
- lack of breastfeeding
- immunodeficiency
Diagnostic investigations
Investigations to consider
- serum electrolytes, BUN, creatinine
- CBC
- stool microscopy
- stool culture
- enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for detection of viral antigen
- stool electron microscopy
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
Authors

Clinical Professor of Pediatrics
The University of Calgary
Calgary
Alberta
Canada
Disclosures
AKCL is an author of a guideline and a number of references cited in this topic.
Peer reviewers
Associate Professor
Department of Paediatrics
University of Toronto
Ontario
Canada
Disclosures
SG declares that he has no competing interests.
Professor
Faculty of Medicine
University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Disclosures
YLL declares that he has no competing interests.
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