[Clinical aspects and management of adult patients with acute gastroenteritis in primary care].

Aim: In patients with acute gastroenteritis, general behaviour of patients as well as medical care remain poorly documented. The aim of this work was to determine clinical and demographic characteristics, reason for visiting a doctor, and medical care in adult patients with acute gastroenteritis.

Methods: During the winter epidemic peak of acute diarrhea, 2,217 general practitioners filled in standardized clinical observations of 17,273 patients (mean age 40 yrs) with acute gastroenteritis.