Infectious Diarrhea

其他感染性腹泻病

Evidence-backed informationEN 5/7 applicable sections · ZH 5/7 applicable sectionsUpdated Sep 3, 2026

Infectious diarrhea, also known as gastroenteritis, is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, or fungi ^[1]. Symptoms typically include diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, and dehydration, with illness usually resolving within two weeks ^[1]. It remains one of the most prevalent global conditions, generating billions of cases and substantial mortality annually across diverse economic settings ^[1].

Read the full clinical and epidemiological profile6

Definition

Gastroenteritis, frequently termed infectious diarrhea or acute infectious diarrhea (AID), denotes inflammation of the stomach and intestinal tract ^[1]. Although commonly mislabeled as "stomach flu" in North America due to seasonal similarities, it is etiologically unrelated to influenza ^[1]. Causative agents span viral, bacterial, parasitic, and fungal pathogens ^[1].

Clinical features

Primary manifestations consist of diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, often accompanied by fever, fatigue, and dehydration ^[1]. The acute phase generally lasts fewer than fourteen days ^[1]. Disease courses may encompass acute, chronic, or post-infectious intestinal and extra-intestinal complications ^[2]. Pediatric severe disease is frequently driven by rotavirus, while norovirus and Campylobacter predominate in adult populations ^[1].

Epidemiology

Infectious diarrhea constitutes a massive global health burden, with approximately 4.67 billion cases and 1.17 million deaths reported worldwide in 2021 ^[1]. Children under five and populations in developing regions bear the highest incidence and mortality rates, historically accounting for nearly 1.7 billion pediatric cases and 0.7 million fatalities ^[1]. Seasonal dynamics shape outbreak patterns, with elevated transmission during rainy periods in some areas and winter months in temperate zones ^[1]. Vaccination initiatives have notably decreased rotavirus-associated pediatric mortality ^[1].

Transmission

Pathogen spread occurs via ingestion of contaminated water or food, sharing personal items, and direct contact with infected persons ^[1]. Improperly sterilized infant feeding bottles represent a significant global transmission vector ^[1]. Transmission intensity correlates strongly with environmental and behavioral factors, including inadequate hygiene, household overcrowding, and malnutrition ^[1]. Asymptomatic immune adults can serve as silent carriers, perpetuating community spread ^[1].

Prevention

Foundational interventions prioritize access to uncontaminated water, improved sanitation, and consistent hand hygiene, which can lower infection rates by up to 30% ^[1]. Alcohol-based sanitizers provide supplementary protection ^[1]. Breastfeeding mitigates both infection frequency and duration in infants ^[1]. Public health measures also advocate for rotavirus immunization in children, safe food handling, and appropriate human waste management ^[1].

References

1Wikipedia contributors. Gastroenteritis - Wikipedia [Internet]. Wikipedia. cited 3 Sept 2026.Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastroenteritis
2Shane AL et al. State-of-the-Art Review: Infectious Diarrhea. Clin Infect Dis. 2025 Dec 24. PMID: 41437889. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaf356.PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41437889/
3Poeta M et al. Acute Infectious Diarrhea. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2024. PMID: 39060736. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-58572-2_9.PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39060736/

Coding Register

ICD-10: A09
ICD-11: 1A11

Key Statistics

Total cases: 30.8M
Total deaths: 320
Peak month: 2025-03
Coverage: 3 reporting countries · 2010-01-01 → 2026-08-30

Coverage

Reporting countries and regions

3 locations

Trends by reporting country

Monthly patterns over time

Research Radar

Recent related research

View all research →

Peer reviewedOpen accessGastroenteritisTreatment

DOI 10.1186/s12879-026-14002-1 ↗

Molecular detection of pathogens associated with childhood gastroenteritis in Burkina Faso using the FilmArray® GI panel

Modeste Tegawende Gampene, Namwin Siourimè Somda, Patrice Adama Soubeiga +11 more

BMC Infectious DiseasesJul 13, 2026

Open article ↗Gastroenteritis surveillance →

Literature links are provided for discovery and do not alter or validate the surveillance series above.

Rows16,021

Updated2026-09-01

Coverage—

Partitions7

Source5 series · 8,093 observations

Official sourcesAuthority, cadence, notes71

MONTHLYweb

Monthly notifiable infectious disease reports published by China CDC.

MONTHLYweb

Official China public health bulletin and query portal.

MONTHLYweb

Biomedical literature discovery feed used as supplementary context.