Gastroenteritis In Adults

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask whether you recently have been exposed to anyone who has diarrhea, or whether you have recently eaten at a restaurant or social function where the food was left at room temperature for prolonged periods. If you can remember eating a meal within the last week that smelled or tasted strange, be sure to mention it to your doctor.

Since gastroenteritis is especially common where sanitation is poor, your doctor also will ask whether you have recently traveled to an underdeveloped country or to any location where the drinking water is not tested routinely. This includes rural streams, lakes or swimming holes in the United States.

In most cases, your doctor can diagnose mild gastroenteritis based on your symptoms, your history of exposure to spoiled food, impure water or someone with diarrhea, and the results of your physical examination.

Rarely, special laboratory testing may be needed if you have unusually severe symptoms, such as:

• A fever over 101° Fahrenheit

• Severe diarrhea (more than 10 watery stools daily)

• Signs of significant dehydration (dry mouth, intense thirst, weakness)

• Stool that contains blood or pus

This testing usually involves taking one or more stool samples to be tested in a laboratory for the presence of bacteria (especially campylobacter, salmonella, or E. coli), or examined for microscopic parasites.

Expected Duration

Most cases of mild, uncomplicated gastroenteritis last one to seven days.