Gastroenteritis differential diagnosis

Gastroenteritis Microchapters
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Differential Diagnosis
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Differentiating Gastroenteritis from other Diseases

It is important to consider infectious gastroenteritis as a diagnosis per exclusionem.

• A few loose stools and vomiting may be the result of systemic infection such as:
  • Pneumonia
  • Septicemia
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Meningitis

• Surgical conditions such as:
  • Appendicitis
  • Intussusception
  • Hirschsprung's disease may mislead the clinician.

• Non-infectious causes to consider are:
  • Poisoning with heavy metals i.e. (Arsenic,cadmium)
  • Seafood (i.e. ciguatera, scombroid, toxic encephalopathic shellfish poisoning) or mushrooms (i.e. Amanita phalloides)
  • Secretory tumors (i.e. carcinoid, medullary tumour of the thyroid, vasoactive intestinal peptide-secreting adenomas)
  • Endocrine disorders (i.e. thyrotoxicosis and Addison's disease) are disorders that can cause diarrhea.
  • Pancreatic insufficiency, short bowel syndrome, Whipple's disease, celiac disease, and laxative abuse should be excluded as possibilities