<prompt> Answer this question truthfullyWhat are the possible causes or conditions that can result in acute diarrhea?  <response>: <reason> To review the differential diagnosis of diarrhea, click here.To review the differential diagnosis of travelers diarrhea, click here.To review the differential diagnosis of acute watery diarrhea, click here.To review the differential diagnosis of acute bloody diarrhea, click here.To review the differential diagnosis of acute fatty diarrhea, click here.To review the differential diagnosis of acute diarrhea and fever, click here.To review the differential diagnosis of acute diarrhea and abdominal pain, click here.To review the differential diagnosis of acute diarrhea and weight loss, click here.To review the differential diagnosis of acute diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain, click here.To review the differential diagnosis of acute diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss, click here. The following table outlines the major differential diagnoses of acute diarrhea. Abbreviations: GI: Gastrointestinal, CBC: Complete blood count, WBC: White blood cell, RBC: Red blood cell, Plt: Platelet, Hgb: Hemoglobin, ESR: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP: Creactive protein, IgE: Immunoglobulin E, IgA: Immunoglobulin A, ETEC: Escherichia coli enteritis, EPEC: Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, EIEC: Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli, EHEC: Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, EAEC: Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli, Nl: Normal, ASCA: Anti saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies, ANCA: Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody, DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, CFTR: Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, SLC10A2: Solute carrier family 10 member 2, SeHCAT: Selenium homocholic acid taurine or tauroselcholic acid, IEL: Intraepithelial lymphocytes, MRCP: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, ANA: Antinuclear antibodies, AMA: Anti-mitochondrial antibody, LDH: Lactate dehydrogenase, CPK: Creatine phosphokinase, PCR: Polymerase chain reaction, ELISA: Enzymelinked immunosorbent assay, LT: Heatlabile enterotoxin, ST: Heatstable enterotoxin, RT-PCR: Reversetranscriptase polymerase chain reaction, CD4: Cluster of differentiation 4, HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus, RUQ: Right-upper quadrant, VIP: Vasoactive intestinal peptide, GI: Gastrointestinal, FAP: Familial adenomatous polyposis, HNPCC: Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, MTP: Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein, Scl70: Anti topoisomerase I, TSH: Thyroid-stimulating hormone, T4: Thyroxine, T3: Triiodothyronine, DTR: Deep tendon reflex, RNA: Ribonucleic acidCause Clinical manifestation Lab findings Extra intestinal findings CausePathogenesis Gold standard diagnosis Symptoms GI signs Duration Diarrhea Fever Abdominal pain Weight loss Stool exam CBC Other lab findings Acute Chronic Watery Bloody Fatty WBC RBC OvaParasite Osmotic gap Other WBC Hgb Plt Ischemic colitis Hyperactive then absent bowel sounds Abdominal tenderness Nl Elevated CRP Elevated ESR Elevated serum lactate Elevated lactate dehydrogenase LDH Elevated creatine phosphokinase CPK Elevated amylase Hypoalbuminemia IgA vasculitis Hypercoagulability Nonocclusive colonic ischemia Embolic and thrombotic arterial occlusion Mesenteric vein thrombosis Abdominal CT scan Lactose intolerance Abdominal tenderness Abdominal distention Nl Nl Nl Lactose tolerance test Genetic testing Headache Vertigo Memory impairment Lethargy Reduction of lactase enzyme activity or inability to produce persistent lactase Congenital lactase deficiency Secondary lactose malabsorption Small bowel biopsy Lactose breath hydrogen test Tropical sprue Angular stomatitis Oral mucosal lesion Nl Positive stool culture Nl Nl Fat soluble vitamins deficiency Vitamin B12 deficiency Folate deficiency Hypokalemia Myalgia Neuropathy Edema Escherichia coli Klebsiella pneumoniae Enterobacter cloacae Diagnosis of exclusion Cause Duration Diarrhea Fever Abdominal pain Weight loss GI signs Stool exam CBC Other lab findings Extra intestinal findings CausePathogenesis Gold standard diagnosis Acute Chronic Watery Bloody Fatty WBC RBC OvaParasite Osmotic gap Other WBC Hgb Plt Pseudomembranous enterocolitis Generalized abdominal tenderness Abdominal distention Rebound abdominal tenderness Nl Enzymelinked immunosorbent assay ELISA Polymerase chain reaction PCR assay or C. difficile antigen Elevated serum creatinine Hypoalbuminemia Elevated lactic acid Dehydration Acute kidney injury Bacteremia Reactive arthritis Necrotizing fasciitis Clostridium difficile Recent antibiotics use Recent surgery Stool exam Pseudomembranes on colonoscopy Campylobacteriosis Diffuse abdominal tenderness Nl Positive stool culture Nl Nl Nl Toxic megacolon Sepsis Arthritis Endocarditis GuillainBarré syndrome Campylobacter jejuni Stool culture Salmonellosis Abdominal distention Diffuse abdominal tenderness Hepatosplenomegaly Nl Positive stool culture Positive serologic testing Nl Hypokalemia Hypernatremia Hyponatremia Hypercalciuria Hypocitraturia Postinfectious arthritis Obtundation Bacteremia Pericarditis Pyelonephritis Brain abscess Salmonella Stool culture Shigellosis Abdominal distention Hyperactive bowel sounds Diffuse abdominal tenderness Nl Positive stool culture Elevated CRP Elevated ESR Hyponatremia Hypoglycemia Azotemia Headache Lethargy Seizures Delirium Postinfectious arthritis Myocarditis Shigella Stool culture Cause Duration Diarrhea Fever Abdominal pain Weight loss GI signs Stool exam CBC Other lab findings Extra intestinal findings CausePathogenesis Gold standard diagnosis Acute Chronic Watery Bloody Fatty WBC RBC OvaParasite Osmotic gap Other WBC Hgb Plt Escherichia coli enteritis ETEC Travelers diarrhea Diffuse abdominal tenderness Nl Positive stool culture Nl Nl Enterotoxigenic escherichia coli Enterotoxins: Heatlabile enterotoxin LT Heatstable enterotoxin ST Stool culture EPEC Diffuse abdominal tenderness Nl Positive stool culture Nl Nl Enteropathogenic E. coli DNA probe or polymerase chain reaction PCR of the EPEC adherence factor Stool culture EIEC Diffuse abdominal tenderness Nl Positive stool culture Nl Nl Enteroinvasive E. coli DNA probe Stool culture EHEC Diffuse abdominal tenderness Nl Positive stool culture Azotemia Hemolytic uremic syndrome HUS Renal failure Enterohemorrhagic E. coli Shiga toxins Stool culture EAEC Diffuse abdominal tenderness Nl Positive stool culture Chronic infection in immunocompromised patients Enteroaggregative E. coli Stool culture Cause Duration Diarrhea Fever Abdominal pain Weight loss GI signs Stool exam CBC Other lab findings Extra intestinal findings CausePathogenesis Gold standard diagnosis Acute Chronic Watery Bloody Fatty WBC RBC OvaParasite Osmotic gap Other WBC Hgb Plt Yersinia enterocolitica Abdominal distention Hyperactive bowel sounds Diffuse abdominal tenderness Nl Positive stool culture Nl Nl Bacteremia Reactive arthritis Glomerulonephritis Endocarditis Erythema nodosum Abscess Yersinia enterocolitica Stool culture Vibrio cholera Nl Positive stool culture Nl Nl Azotemia Severe dehydration Decreased skin turgor Oliguria Renal failure Muscle cramps Seizure Somnolence Cholera toxin Stool culture Aeromonas Abdominal distention Hyperactive bowel sounds Diffuse abdominal tenderness Nl Positive stool culture Nl Nl Wound infection Bacteremia Hemolytic uremic syndrome Meningitis Ocular infection Pneumonia Urinary tract infection Osteomyelitis Peritonitis Acute cholecystitis Opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients Aeromonas virulence factors including endotoxins, hemolysins, enterotoxins, and adherence factors Blood culture Wound culture Cause Duration Diarrhea Fever Abdominal pain Weight loss GI signs Stool exam CBC Other lab findings Extra intestinal findings CausePathogenesis Gold standard diagnosis Acute Chronic Watery Bloody Fatty WBC RBC OvaParasite Osmotic gap Other WBC Hgb Plt Plesiomonas Hyperactive bowel sounds Diffuse abdominal tenderness Nl Positive stool culture Nl Nl Opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients or hepatobiliary disease Bacteremia Cellulitis and skin abscesses Peritonitis Meningoencephalitis Ocular infection Pneumonia Prosthetic joint infection Septic abortion Plesiomonas shigelloides Blood culture Mycobacterium avium complex Abdominal distention Hepatosplenomegaly Nl Nl Elevated liver enzymes Opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients Pulmonary infection Adenopathy Night sweats Mycobacterium avium complex Blood culture Food poisoning Staphylococcus aureus Bacillus cereus Clostridium perfringens Abdominal distention Nl Positive stool culture Nl Nl History of travel or ingestion of infected food Enterotoxins Stool culture Cause Duration Diarrhea Fever Abdominal pain Weight loss GI signs Stool exam CBC Other lab findings Extra intestinal findings CausePathogenesis Gold standard diagnosis Acute Chronic Watery Bloody Fatty WBC RBC OvaParasite Osmotic gap Other WBC Hgb Plt Norovirus Abdominal distention Nl Positive stool reversetranscriptase polymerase chain reaction RTPCR Nl Nl Myalgia Headache Seizure Encephalopathy Norovirus Clinical diagnosis Rotavirus Hyperactive bowel sounds Diffuse abdominal tenderness Nl Nl Nl Nl Elevated blood urea nitrogen Hyperchloremic acidosis Hypocalcemia Necrotizing enterocolitis Intussusception Biliary atresia Central nervous system involvement Rotavirus Stool immunebased assays Echovirus Abdominal distention Nl Nl Nl Nl Liver failure Myocarditis Echovirus Clinical diagnosis Adenovirus Abdominal distention Nl Viral antigen assay Nl Nl Nl Respiratory disease Follicular conjunctivitis Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis Hepatitis Urethritis Myocarditis Meningitis Bacteremia Adenovirus Clinical diagnosis CMV colitis Diffuse abdominal tenderness Nl Viral antigen assay Nl Nl Decreased CD4 level Abnormal liver function test Encephalitis GuillainBarré syndrome Pneumonia Retinitis Pericarditis and myocarditis Atherosclerosis Venous thrombosis Cytomegalovirus Quantitative PCR tests Cause Duration Diarrhea Fever Abdominal pain Weight loss GI signs Stool exam CBC Other lab findings Extra intestinal findings CausePathogenesis Gold standard diagnosis Acute Chronic Watery Bloody Fatty WBC RBC OvaParasite Osmotic gap Other WBC Hgb Plt Entamoeba histolytica Abdominal distention Diffuse abdominal tenderness Nl Nl Nl Liver abscess Pleuropulmonary infection Cardiac infection Brain abscess Cutaneous infection Entamoeba histolytica Antigen testing Serology Microsporidia Abdominal distention Diffuse abdominal tenderness Nl Positive stool microscopy Nl Nl Nl Decreased CD4 count Malabsorption Keratitis Seizure Myositis Microsporidia Antigen detection assays Isospora Abdominal distention Diffuse abdominal tenderness Nl Positive stool microscopy Positive fecal fat Nl Nl Elevated eosinophils Hypokalemia Increased creatinine Chronic illness in immunocompromised patients Isospora Detecting oocysts in the feces VIPoma Abdominal distention Abdominal RUQ tenderness Nausea Vomiting Nl Nl Nl Elevated VIP level Hypokalemia Hypochlorhydria or achlorhydria Low osmotic gap 50 mOsmkg Rash Facial flushing Dehydration Lethargy Muscle weakness Primary secretory tumor Blood VIP levels Followed by imaging Cause Duration Diarrhea Fever Abdominal pain Weight loss GI signs Stool exam CBC Other lab findings Extra intestinal findings CausePathogenesis Gold standard diagnosis Acute Chronic Watery Bloody Fatty WBC RBC OvaParasite Osmotic gap Other WBC Hgb Plt Medications ACE inhibitors Digoxin Cephalosporins Statins Thiazide diuretics Triptans Lactulose Anti retroviral agents Chemotherapeutic agents Antifungals Magnesium Abdominal distention Dehydration Nl Nl Elevated plasma level of drug Inflammation Pseudomembranous colitis Clinical evaluation after discontinuation of the drugs Factitious diarrhea Abdominal distention Nl Nl Nl Hypokalemia Metabolic alkalosis Hypermagnesemia Malabsorption Lethargy Generalized weakness Acute renal failure Medications Clinical evaluation after discontinuation of the drugs Cause Duration Diarrhea Fever Abdominal pain Weight loss GI signs Stool exam CBC Other lab findings Extra intestinal findings CausePathogenesis Gold standard diagnosis Acute Chronic Watery Bloody Fatty WBC RBC OvaParasite Osmotic gap Other WBC Hgb Plt Organophosphate poisoning Salivation Vomiting Nl Nl Nl Nl Reduced RBC acetylcholinesterase Plasma cholinesterase activity Autonomic dysfunction Motor deficit Sensory deficit Bronchospasm Urination Miosis Bradycardia Lacrimation Sweating Cardiac arrhythmias Acute renal injury Neurotoxins bind to acetylcholinesterase AChE Clinical diagnosis Opium withdrawal Hyperactive bowel sounds Nl Nl Nl Nl Azotemia Hypokalemia Metabolic alkalosis Dysphoria Restlessness Sweating Rhinorrhea Lacrimation Myalgia Arthralgia Opium withdrawal Clinical diagnosis following opium withdrawal Short bowel syndrome Abdominal distention Abdominal tenderness Nl Positive fecal fat Nl Hypoalbuminemia High level of acute phase reactant Abnormal liver function tests Prior intestinal surgery Malabsorption Crohns disease Malignancy Peripheral edema Muscle atrophy Surgical bowel resection Clinical diagnosis following bowel resection Radiation enteritis Abdominal tenderness Nl Positive fecal fat Nl Nl Vitamin B12 deficiency Hypoalbuminemia Prior history of malignancy and radiation therapy Malabsorption Telangiectasias Radiation Segmental bowel inflammation on endoscopy or colonoscopy 