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Acute diarrhea diagnostic study of choice

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sudarshana Datta, MD [2]

Overview

Overview

There is no established diagnostic study of choice for acute diarrhea, as it is generally self-limited. Specific diagnostic studies are performed if symptoms last >7 days, in moderate-to-severe cases, dysentery, and to determine etiology in order to enable directed pathogen-specific therapy.

Diagnostic Study of Choice

Diagnostic Study of Choice

There is no established diagnostic study of choice for acute diarrhea as it is generally self-limited. Specific diagnostic studies are performed if symptoms last >7 days, in moderate-to-severe cases, dysentery, and to determine etiology in order to enable directed pathogen-specific therapy.[1][2] 

References

References

  1. Guerrant RL, Van Gilder T, Steiner TS, Thielman NM, Slutsker L, Tauxe RV, Hennessy T, Griffin PM, DuPont H, Sack RB, Tarr P, Neill M, Nachamkin I, Reller LB, Osterholm MT, Bennish ML, Pickering LK (2001). “Practice guidelines for the management of infectious diarrhea”. Clin. Infect. Dis. 32 (3): 331–51. doi:10.1086/318514. PMID 11170940.
  2. Guerrant RL, Shields DS, Thorson SM, Schorling JB, Gröschel DH (1985). “Evaluation and diagnosis of acute infectious diarrhea”. Am. J. Med. 78 (6B): 91–8. PMID 4014291.

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