Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is an inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by rapid-onset diarrheal disease, with or without nausea, vomiting, fever, or abdominal pain ^[1]. It is among the most common infectious disease syndromes worldwide, caused by viruses, gut bacteria, parasites, or fungi ^[1][3]. In children, rotavirus is the most common cause of severe disease, while in adults, norovirus and Campylobacter are common causes ^[1][3].

Symptoms of gastroenteritis include diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, lack of energy, and dehydration ^[1]. The condition typically lasts less than two weeks ^[1]. Evaluation includes assessing fluid intake and output, with the physical examination serving as the best method to evaluate hydration status ^[2]. The Clinical Dehydration Scale can be used to determine severity based on physical findings ^[2]. Most infections are self-limited ^[3].

Gastroenteritis is estimated to have caused 4.67 billion cases and 1.17 million deaths globally in 2021 ^[1]. Children and those in developing countries are most commonly affected, with approximately 1.7 billion cases in children under five in 2011, resulting in 0.7 million deaths, most occurring in the world's poorest nations ^[1]. Approximately 120,000 child deaths under five are attributed to rotavirus annually, with substantial decline attributed to global rotavirus vaccination scale-up ^[1]. In the United States, there are more than 350 million cases annually, including 48 million foodborne cases ^[4]. Traveler's diarrhea affects more than half of people traveling from developed to developing countries ^[4].

Gastroenteritis spreads through drinking contaminated water, sharing personal objects with infected individuals, and eating improperly prepared food ^[1]. In areas with four seasons, infections are more common in winter, while water quality typically worsens during rainy seasons when outbreaks increase ^[1]. Poor hygiene, especially among children, crowded households, and poor nutritional status are associated with higher transmission rates ^[1]. Adults may carry certain organisms without exhibiting symptoms and become natural reservoirs ^[1]. Bottle-feeding of babies with improperly sanitized bottles is a significant cause worldwide ^[1].

Prevention includes hand washing with soap, drinking clean water, breastfeeding babies instead of using formula, and proper disposal of human waste ^[1]. Personal hygiene measures decrease rates by as much as 30% in both developing and developed countries, and alcohol-based gels may also be effective ^[1]. Breastfeeding reduces both the frequency and duration of infections, particularly important in places with poor hygiene ^[1]. The rotavirus vaccine is recommended for children and has contributed to substantial declines in childhood mortality ^[1]. Contaminated food or drink should be avoided ^[1].

1. 1Wikipedia contributors. Gastroenteritis - Wikipedia [Internet]. Wikipedia. cited 4 Sept 2026.Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastroenteritis
2. 2Hartman S et al. Gastroenteritis in Children. Am Fam Physician. 2019 Feb 1. PMID: 30702253.PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30702253/
3. 3Fleckenstein JM et al. Acute Bacterial Gastroenteritis. Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2021 Jun. PMID: 34024442. doi: 10.1016/j.gtc.2021.02.002.PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34024442/
4. 4Graves NS et al. Acute gastroenteritis. Prim Care. 2013 Sep. PMID: 23958366. doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2013.05.006.PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23958366/