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Sub-Category:

Severe Gastroenteritis

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Gastrointestinal Emergencies

Sub-category: Infectious GI Conditions

Symptoms:
profuse diarrhea; vomiting; severe dehydration; abdominal cramping; fever; bloody stools (in some cases)

Root Cause:
Inflammation of the stomach and intestines caused by bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections, leading to fluid and electrolyte imbalances.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, stool tests (for pathogens), blood tests (to assess dehydration and electrolyte levels).

Treatment:
Rehydration with intravenous fluids, electrolyte replacement, and antimicrobial therapy if indicated.

Medications:
Oral rehydration salts (ORS), IV fluids (crystalloids like normal saline), antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin or azithromycin (for bacterial infections), and antiemetics like ondansetron .

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
A leading cause of morbidity globally, with higher prevalence in developing countries; severe cases are less common but can be life-threatening, especially in children and the elderly.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Poor sanitation, contaminated food or water, travel to endemic regions, immunosuppression.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with adequate hydration and timely treatment; delayed or inadequate treatment can lead to severe complications.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, kidney failure, sepsis, death in extreme cases.