Abstract
Acute gastroenteritis is a common cause of emergency and office visits. This article reviews causes, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. The incidence of antibiotic-associated colitis is increasing worldwide as a consequence of widespread use of broad-spectrum antibiotics for various illnesses. The pathogenic organism, Clostridium difficile, produces two enterotoxins, toxin A and toxin B, that cause colonic mucosal inflammation. C. difficile infection presents with a wide range of clinical manifestations, from asymptomatic carriers to life-threatening pseudomembranous colitis.
MeSH terms
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Acute Disease
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects*
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Bacterial Proteins*
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Bacterial Toxins / adverse effects
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Diarrhea / chemically induced*
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Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / microbiology*
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Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / therapy
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Enterotoxins / adverse effects
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Gastroenteritis* / diagnosis
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Gastroenteritis* / microbiology
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Gastroenteritis* / therapy
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Gram-Negative Bacteria / isolation & purification
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Gram-Positive Bacteria / isolation & purification
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Humans
Substances
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Anti-Bacterial Agents
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Bacterial Proteins
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Bacterial Toxins
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Enterotoxins
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tcdA protein, Clostridium difficile
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toxB protein, Clostridium difficile