Gastroenteritis in adults. New aspects of diagnosis and treatment.

BACKGROUND: Gastroenteritis is common, usually self limited and does not require laboratory investigation. OBJECTIVE: This article examines current aspects of clinical diagnosis, the incidence of pathogens, laboratory investigations, and therapies. DISCUSSION: Investigation of patients with gastroenteritis is more appropriate at the extremes of age and in selected patient groups. Empiric therapy of presumptive invasive bacterial gastroenteritis shortens the duration of symptoms and limits bacterial excretion.