Gastroenteritis is an inflammation or irritation of the lining of the stomach and intestines, which often results in diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or stomach cramps.

In healthy adults, gastroenteritis is not usually a serious condition. However, the condition can cause life-threatening dehydration or electrolyte imbalance in infants and children, or in adults who are unable to care for themselves. People with other medical conditions or weakened immune systems may be at risk for developing severe gastroenteritis.

Gastroenteritis is most often caused by viruses spread by close contact with an infected person, or by consuming food contaminated by bacteria. The condition can also be caused by parasites, protozoans, chemicals or toxins. Certain types of medications may also cause the condition.  

Gastroenteritis may be diagnosed during a physical examination that includes a medical history. If patients have been experiencing symptoms for 48 hours or longer, physicians may request a stool sample, which will be put in a culture medium and bacteria and protozoa that may be causing the illness will grow and will be characterized in a lab. Viruses are usually detected by a culture. In many cases, people with gastroenteritis recover after several days without seeing a physician.

Mild cases of gastroenteritis may be treated at home by increasing fluid intake to avoid dehydration. This is particularly important for children, who usually become dehydrated faster than adults. More severe cases may require hospitalization and intravenous administration of fluids.

Gastroenteritis may be prevented in a variety of ways. Washing hands thoroughly can help prevent spread of infection. Cooking meat and eggs properly and making sure food is refrigerated at an appropriate temperature can help prevent contamination of food.