Gastroenteritis — NOT !!!!!

NEVER Dx “gastroenteritis” when chief complaint is “Abdominal Pain”.

• OK if chief complaint is “diarrhea,” & there’s a pain component
• BEWARE if there’s prominent nausea/vomiting with pain (N/V suggest visceral origin)

PEARL  — 

• If acute & persistent vomiting begins before the pain, Staphylococcal “food poisoning” is likely (duration <8 hours)
• If pain begins first, before the vomiting, strongly suspect a culprit organ (gall bladder, pancreas, appendix, pyelo, etc.)

See posting Abdominal Pain – 1.

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