Gastroenteritis differential diagnosis
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Gastroenteritis Microchapters |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
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
- 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 tumours (i.e. carcinoid, medullary tumour of the thyroid, vasoactive intestinal peptide-secreting adenomas) and **Endocrine disorders (i.e. thyrotoxicosis and Addison's disease) are disorders that can cause diarrhea.
- Also, pancreatic insufficiency, short bowel syndrome, Whipple's disease, coeliac disease, and laxative abuse should be excluded as possibilities.