Acute gastroenteritis: the need to remember alternative diagnoses

• Published in: Postgraduate medical journal Vol. 66; no. 782; pp. 1037 - 1039
• Main Authors: Felton, J. M., Harries, A. D., Beeching, N. J., Rogerson, S. J., Nye, F. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England The Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine 01.12.1990; Oxford University Press; BMJ Group
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Adult; Aged; Animals; Appendicitis - diagnosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Gastroenteritis - diagnosis; Gastrointestinal Diseases - diagnosis; Humans; Malaria - diagnosis; Male; Middle Aged; Plasmodium falciparum; Sepsis - diagnosis; Urinary Tract Infections - diagnosis
• ISSN: 0032-5473; 1469-0756
• DOI: 10.1136/pgmj.66.782.1037

Five hundred and ninety-four patients were consecutively admitted to an infectious disease unit over a 2-year period with a referral diagnosis of acute gastroenteritis or food poisoning. In 175 (29%) patients, gastrointestinal symptoms were associated with a condition other than gastrointestinal infection. Non-infective gastrointestinal disease was present in 90 patients, systemic infection in 50 and systemic disease in 35. Four illustrative case histories are presented to emphasize the need for a high index of suspicion if diseases such as malaria, septicaemia or appendicitis are not to be missed.