Gastroenteritis: Causes

Key points

• Gastroenteritis may either occur whilst at home or whilst travelling abroad (travellers' diarrhoea) Travellers' diarrhoea may be defined as at least 3 loose to watery stools in 24 hours with or without one of more of abdominal…
• vomiting within 6 hours, stereotypically due to rice
• diarrhoeal illness occurring after 6 hours Amoebiasis Gradual onset bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain and tenderness which may last for several weeks Incubation period
• 1-6 hrs: Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus*
• 12-48 hrs: Salmonella, Escherichia coli