Gastroenteritis in adults. New aspects of diagnosis and treatment.
BACKGROUND
Gastroenteritis is common, usually self limited and does not require laboratory investigation.


OBJECTIVE
This article examines current aspects of clinical diagnosis, the incidence of pathogens, laboratory investigations, and therapies.


CONCLUSIONS
Investigation of patients with gastroenteritis is more appropriate at the extremes of age and in selected patient groups. Empiric therapy of presumptive invasive bacterial gastroenteritis shortens the duration of symptoms and limits bacterial excretion.
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors