From Strong Medicine - “An Approach to Acute Diarrhea”
Differentiation is key: Quickly differentiate between non-inflammatory and inflammatory diarrhea to guide management strategies.
Traveler's Diarrhea: Remember it's usually self-limited and commonly caused by enterotoxic E. coli, campylobacter, and norovirus.
Testing Strategy: Prioritize testing for C. diff in patients with risk factors; reserve extensive testing (stool culture, PCR panel) for severe cases or those not improving.
Personalized Approach: Utilize a stepwise, patient-specific approach to diagnosis and management, considering individual risk factors and symptom severity.
Symptomatic Treatment: In many cases, focus on symptomatic treatment, emphasizing hydration and monitoring, unless red flags present.