RT Book, Section
A1 Spandorfer, Philip R.
A2 Shah, Samir S.
SR Print(0)
ID 6907882
T1 Chapter 39. Gastroenteritis
T2 Pediatric Practice: Infectious Disease
YR 2009
FD 2009
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-148924-9
LK accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=6907882
RD 2024/04/23
AB Gastroenteritis  is  commonly  defined  as  either  the  acute  onset  of  vomiting  or  the  acute  onset  of  diarrhea  with  or  without  vomiting.  Vomiting  is  defined  as  the  acute  onset  of  forceful  expulsion  of  gastric  secretions  through  the  oral  cavity  and  should  be  differentiated  from  posttussive  emesis  and  gastroesophageal  reflux.  Diarrhea  is  defined  as  loose  or  watery  stools.  When  bloody  diarrhea  and  fever  are  present,  the  illness  is  referred  to  as  dysentery.  The  majority  of  gastroenteritis  in  the  developed  countries  occurs  due  to  a  viral  etiology,  predominantly  rotavirus,  whereas  bacteria  are  responsible  for  the  majority  of  cases  in  less  developed  nations.  Relatively  common  causes  of  gastroenteritis  are  listed  in  Table  39–1.