1. Abdominal Symptoms of Bacterial Gastroenteritis
The first clue that may lead you to suspect gastroenteritis is diarrhea. Gastroenteritis, also known as infectious diarrhea, causes the large intestine to become infected and unable to retain fluid. The stools become very watery, resulting in diarrhea. Occasionally, the stools are so loose that incontinence occurs. This is particularly likely in young children. Diarrhea can be so severe that it leads to dehydration. Symptoms of dehydration include extreme thirst, a dry mouth, dry skin, dark urine and sunken cheeks or eyes.
The GI symptoms of bacterial gastroenteritis are very similar to those of viral gastroenteritis. However, if you are suffering from the bacterial variety, it is more likely that you will experience blood in your stool. This can be alarming but is generally not serious.
Along with diarrhea, you may experience vomiting, abdominal pain, cramping and nausea. If you have a young child suffering from the stomach flu, you will probably notice that he is not eating well. Adults can also experience loss of appetite.
2. Use a Stool Culture to Test for Gastroenteritis
If your doctor suspects bacterial gastroenteritis, you will probably be given a kit to collect a stool sample. The lab can then determine whether there is a bacterial source for your symptoms. They will look for organisms such as salmonella, shigella and listeria. A positive result means that you have bacterial gastroenteritis. A negative result means that something else is causing your symptoms.
3. Examine Your Medical History
Your doctor will want to look at your history to help identify possible causes for your symptoms. Certain factors can point in the direction of bacterial causes. For example, travel to Africa will significantly elevate risk of contracting traveler's diarrhea. If you've traveled anywhere shortly before experiencing GI symptoms, you may have picked up a bacterial organism as an unwanted souvenir from your trip. Another extremely common cause is eating raw or contaminated foods, particularly dairy and meat products. Your doctor may ask about what you ate prior to experiencing symptoms.
Pre-existing medical conditions are another possible cause, so your doctor will want to know about recent hospitalizations and illnesses such as liver disease and sickle cell anemia. A medical history is also useful in ruling out other conditions that may be responsible for your symptoms.
4. Look for Additional Symptoms
You may also experience other symptoms that are not specific to bacterial gastroenteritis. These include fever, sudden weight loss, clammy skin, excessive sweating, muscle pain and stiffness in your joints. These symptoms combined with the GI symptoms suggest the possibility of gastroenteritis.
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