Differential Diagnosis for 2-year-old with Fever and Diarrhea
- Single most likely diagnosis:
- Viral gastroenteritis: This is the most common cause of fever and diarrhea in a 2-year-old, often due to rotavirus, norovirus, or adenovirus, and typically presents with acute onset of symptoms.
- Other Likely diagnoses:
- Bacterial gastroenteritis: Caused by pathogens like E. coli, Salmonella, or Shigella, which can be acquired through contaminated food or water.
- Food poisoning: Can be caused by a variety of bacteria, viruses, or toxins, often presenting with sudden onset of fever, diarrhea, and sometimes vomiting.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.):
- Intussusception: A condition where a part of the intestine slides into an adjacent part, potentially cutting off blood supply, which can present with intermittent abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloody stools, but sometimes with just fever and diarrhea.
- Appendicitis: Although less common in this age group, appendicitis can present with fever, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, and is a surgical emergency.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Conditions like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis can present with chronic diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain, and require early diagnosis and treatment to prevent complications.
- Rare diagnoses:
- Giardiasis: An intestinal infection caused by the parasite Giardia lamblia, which can cause chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and abdominal cramps.
- Celiac disease: An autoimmune reaction to gluten, leading to small intestine damage and malabsorption, which can present with chronic diarrhea, abdominal distension, and failure to thrive.
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS): A condition that can occur after certain bacterial infections (like E. coli O157:H7), leading to kidney failure and requiring prompt recognition and treatment.