Diagnosis and management of acute gastroenteritis in the emergency department.

There are approximately 178 million cases of acute gastroenteritis annually in the United States, resulting in 473,000 hospitalizations and 5000 deaths. The vast majority of these cases are of viral etiology, self-limited, and require only supportive care; nonetheless, patients at high risk due to extremes of age or immunosuppression often require specific therapy to ensure resolution of symptoms. With this common ED presentation, there are many potential decisions related to resource utilization and management. This review provides a best-evidence approach to diagnosis and management supported by recent guidelines from the American College of Gastroenterology and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.