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Highlights & Basics
- Viral gastroenteritis is typically a self-limited condition lasting around 3-8 days, but could be up to 14 days. Frequent symptoms are nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which may be accompanied by fever, abdominal pain, and anorexia.
- Viral gastroenteritis is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the US and worldwide.
- Person-to-person transmission is responsible for infection in most sporadic cases. Foodborne and waterborne epidemic outbreaks have the potential to involve large numbers of people.
- Mostly caused by norovirus.
- Rotavirus also causes symptomatic infection in older people and in immunocompromised adults.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
Other Factors
Diagnostics Tests
Treatment Options
Definition
Epidemiology
Etiology
Pathophysiology
Citations
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Riddle MS, DuPont HL, Connor BA. ACG clinical guideline: diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of acute diarrheal infections in adults. Am J Gastroenterol. 2016 May;111(5):602-22.[Abstract]
Farthing M, Salam MA, Lindberg G, et al. Acute diarrhea in adults and children: a global perspective. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2013 Jan;47(1):12-20.[Abstract]
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