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Viral gastroenteritis - Symptom

Alternative Names

Rotavirus infection; Norwalk virus; Gastroenteritis - viral; Stomach flu

Symptoms:

Other symptoms may include:

Chills
Clammy skin
Excessive sweating
Fever
Joint stiffness
Leakage (incontinence) of stool
Muscle pain
Poor feeding
Vomiting blood (very rare)
Weight loss

Signs and tests:

Your health care provider will look for signs that the body does not have enough water (dehydration). These include:

Dry or sticky mouth
Lethargic or comatose (severe dehydration)
Low blood pressure
Low or no urine output; concentrated urine appears dark yellow
Markedly sunken soft spots (fontanelles) on the top of an infant's head
No tears
Sunken eyes

Tests that examine stool samples may be used to identify the specific virus. This is usually not needed for viral gastroenteritis. A stool culture may be done to identify a bacterial cause for diarrhea.

Digestive system

Digestive system organs

Reviewed last on: 4/12/2010
Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Divison of Physician Assistant STudies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Craig SA, Zich DK. Gastroenteritis. In: Mark JA, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2009:chap 92.

Zulfigar AB. Acute gastroenteritis in children. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 337.

Cortese MM, Parashar UD. Prevention of rotavirus gastroenteritis among infants and children: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR. 2009;58:1-25.

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