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Diagnosis and Management of Acute Gastroenteritis in the Emergency Department (Pharmacology CME)
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Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is inflammation of the GI tract, typically due to an infection. Predominant symptoms may include vomiting and/or diarrhea (though not always), along with fever and abdominal pain, in some cases.
Each year, AGE results in almost 500,000 hospitalizations and 5000 deaths.
A causative organism is never identified in approximately 80% of cases, and even when stool sample is sent, the organism is identified only 25% of the time.
Risk factors include travel to areas with poor sanitation practices, exposure to zoonoses, time spent in healthcare facilities, immunosuppression, and insufficient vaccination status.