Differential Diagnosis for Acute Gastroenteritis
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Viral Gastroenteritis: This is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis, often due to norovirus or rotavirus, characterized by sudden onset of diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Bacterial Gastroenteritis: Caused by bacteria such as Salmonella, Shigella, or Campylobacter, often related to food poisoning or contaminated water, presenting with diarrhea, abdominal pain, and sometimes fever.
- Food Poisoning: Results from consuming contaminated or spoiled food, leading to symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps, with the causative agent depending on the type of food consumed.
- Parasitic Gastroenteritis: Less common, caused by parasites like Giardia lamblia, typically presenting with diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and weight loss, often associated with travel or exposure to contaminated water.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Appendicitis: Although not primarily a gastrointestinal infection, appendicitis can present with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, which might be mistaken for gastroenteritis. Missing this diagnosis can lead to severe consequences, including perforation and peritonitis.
- Intussusception: A condition where a part of the intestine slides into an adjacent part, potentially causing bowel obstruction. It's a medical emergency that can present with abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloody stools, often in children.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Flare: Conditions like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis can have an acute presentation similar to gastroenteritis but require specific management to prevent complications.
Rare Diagnoses
- Ischemic Bowel Disease: Reduced blood flow to the intestines can cause severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. This condition is more common in older adults and those with vascular disease.
- Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis: A rare condition characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract, presenting with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and sometimes ascites or intestinal obstruction.
- Whipple's Disease: A systemic bacterial infection caused by Tropheryma whipplei, which can present with chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and abdominal pain, but is very rare and often diagnosed after other conditions have been ruled out.