This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Possible indicators of a condition other than gastroenteritis affecting a child with diarrhoea and vomiting

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Other conditions that are in the differential diagnosis of gastroenteritis in a child include:

  • respiratory tract infection
  • meningitis
  • urinary tract infection
  • intussusception
  • acute appendicitis
  • Hirschsprung's disease

Suggested indicators of possible diagnoses other than gastroenteritis include:

  • fever (1):
    • temperature of 38°C or higher in children younger than 3 months
    • temperature of 39°C or higher in children aged 3 months or older
  • respiratory features
    • shortness of breath or tachypnoea
  • features suggestive of meningitis
    • altered conscious state
    • neck stiffness
    • bulging fontanelle in infants
    • non-blanching rash
  • possible other gastroenterological cause
    • blood and/or mucus in stool
    • bilious (green) vomit
    • severe or localised abdominal pain
    • abdominal distension or rebound tenderness

Reference:

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.