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Sub-Category:

Infectious and Inflammatory Disorders

Number of Conditions: 1

Acute Gastroenteritis

Specialty: Pediatrics

Category: Gastrointestinal Disorders

Sub-category: Infectious and Inflammatory Disorders

Symptoms:
diarrhea; nausea; vomiting; abdominal cramps; fever; dehydration

Root Cause:
Inflammation of the stomach and intestines caused by viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, physical examination, stool tests (to identify causative pathogen), and sometimes blood tests if dehydration or severe infection is suspected.

Treatment:
Rehydration therapy (oral or IV), dietary adjustments, and in some cases, antimicrobial therapy for bacterial or parasitic infections.

Medications:
Antiemetics (e.g., ondansetron ), antidiarrheals (e.g., loperamide ), antibiotics (e.g., azithromycin for bacterial infections like Campylobacter or Shigella), and antiparasitics (e.g., metronidazole for Giardia).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects millions globally, especially in children under five, with higher prevalence in low-resource settings.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Poor sanitation, contaminated food or water, daycare settings, international travel.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally good with supportive care; most cases resolve in a few days without complications.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, malnutrition, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in some bacterial infections.