Differential Diagnosis for Enteritis
The differential diagnosis for enteritis is a broad range of conditions that can cause inflammation of the intestines. Here are the possible diagnoses, categorized for clarity:
- Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Viral gastroenteritis: This is the most common cause of enteritis, often resulting from norovirus or rotavirus infections, and typically presents with acute onset of diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps.
- Other Likely Diagnoses
- Bacterial gastroenteritis (e.g., Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter): These infections can cause similar symptoms to viral gastroenteritis and are often foodborne or waterborne.
- Food poisoning: This can be caused by consuming contaminated or spoiled food, leading to symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) - Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis: While chronic, these conditions can present with acute exacerbations that resemble enteritis.
- Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Intussusception: A condition where a part of the intestine telescopes into another, which can cause bowel obstruction and ischemia, requiring urgent surgical intervention.
- Appendicitis: Inflammation of the appendix that can present with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, and may progress to perforation if not treated promptly.
- Mesenteric ischemia: A condition where blood flow to the intestines is compromised, leading to tissue death, which is a medical emergency.
- Rare Diagnoses
- Whipple's disease: A rare, systemic bacterial infection that can cause malabsorption and gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Eosinophilic gastroenteritis: A condition characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract, often associated with food allergies or parasitic infections.
- Behçet's disease: A rare form of vasculitis that can affect the gastrointestinal tract and cause symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bleeding.
- Yersiniosis: A bacterial infection caused by Yersinia enterocolitica, which can lead to enteritis, especially in immunocompromised individuals.