Differential Diagnosis for 16 Month Old with Diarrhea
- Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Viral gastroenteritis: This is the most common cause of diarrhea in children of this age group, often due to rotavirus, norovirus, or adenovirus, and is usually self-limiting.
- Other Likely Diagnoses
- Bacterial gastroenteritis: Caused by bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, or Shigella, which can be more severe and may require antibiotic treatment.
- Lactose intolerance: Temporary or permanent intolerance to lactose can cause diarrhea after consuming lactose-containing products.
- Toddler's diarrhea: A common condition in toddlers characterized by chronic, non-bloody diarrhea, often related to dietary factors or gut motility issues.
- Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Intussusception: A condition where a part of the intestine telescopes into another, which can cause severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloody stools, and requires immediate medical attention.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Conditions like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis can present with chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss.
- Infectious causes requiring specific treatment: Such as Giardiasis (Giardia lamblia infection) or Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection, which may require specific antimicrobial therapy.
- Rare Diagnoses
- Celiac disease: An autoimmune reaction to gluten that can cause chronic diarrhea, abdominal distension, and failure to thrive.
- Congenital or acquired immunodeficiency: Conditions that impair the immune system, making the child more susceptible to severe or recurrent infections, including those causing diarrhea.
- Carbohydrate malabsorption: Rare conditions like sucrase-isomaltase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption can cause diarrhea after consuming specific sugars.