Differential diagnosis
A similar clinical picture may be seen in the following circumstances:
- campylobacter infection
- shigellosis
- toxin type food poisoning:
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Clostridium perfringens
- Bacillus cereus (toxin-mediated food poisoning however usually has an onset at less than 6 hours)
- inflammatory bowel disease:
- it may be difficult to distinguish an acute primary Salmonella colitis from an episode of inflammatory bowel disease
- inflammatory bowel disease is suggested if bloody diarrhoea persists beyond 2 weeks despite appropriate antibiotic treatment
- a rectal biopsy with histology may be helpful
- a trial of steroids may also be appropriate
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