Editing Gastroenteritis (section)

==Signs and symptoms==
[[File:BristolStoolChart.png|thumb|upright=1.7|[[Bristol stool scale|Bristol stool chart]]]]
Gastroenteritis usually involves both [[diarrhea]] and [[vomiting]].<ref name=Eck2011/> Sometimes, only one or the other is present.<ref name=EBMED2010/> This may be accompanied by abdominal cramps.<ref name=EBMED2010/> Signs and symptoms usually begin 12–72&nbsp;hours after contracting the infectious agent.<ref name="Web09" /> If due to a virus, the condition usually resolves within one week.<ref name=Eck2011/> Some viral infections also involve [[fever]], fatigue, [[headache]] and [[myalgia|muscle pain]].<ref name=Eck2011/> If the [[dysentery|stool is bloody]], the cause is less likely to be viral<ref name=Eck2011/> and more likely to be bacterial.<ref name=Bact2007/> Some bacterial infections cause severe abdominal pain and may persist for several weeks.<ref name=Bact2007/>

Children infected with rotavirus usually make a full recovery within three to eight days.<ref name="Rota2011">{{cite journal|last=Meloni|first=A|author2=Locci, D |author3=Frau, G |author4=Masia, G |author5=Nurchi, AM |author6=Coppola, RC |title=Epidemiology and prevention of rotavirus infection: an underestimated issue?|journal=Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine|date=October 2011 |volume=24 |issue=Suppl 2|pages=48–51|pmid=21749188|doi=10.3109/14767058.2011.601920|s2cid=44379279}}</ref> However, in poor countries treatment for severe infections is often out of reach and persistent diarrhea is common.<ref>{{cite web|title=Toolkit |url=http://www.defeatdd.org/understanding-crisis/advocacy-outreach/toolkits |work=DefeatDD |access-date=3 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427053802/http://www.defeatdd.org/understanding-crisis/advocacy-outreach/toolkits |archive-date=27 April 2012 }}</ref>  [[Dehydration]] is a common complication of [[diarrhea]].<ref name="NICE2009">{{cite web|title=Management of acute diarrhoea and vomiting due to gastoenteritis in children under 5|url=http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG84|work=National Institute of Clinical Excellence|date=April 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802094158/http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG84|archive-date=2009-08-02|access-date=2009-06-11}}</ref> Severe dehydration in children may be recognized if the skin color and position returns slowly when pressed.<ref name=Tint10/> This is called "prolonged [[capillary refill]]" and "poor [[skin turgor]]".<ref name=Tint10/> Abnormal breathing is another sign of severe dehydration.<ref name="Tint10">{{cite book |author=Tintinalli, Judith E. |title=Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide (Emergency Medicine (Tintinalli))|publisher=McGraw-Hill Companies |location=New York |year=2010 |pages=830–839 |isbn=978-0-07-148480-0 }}</ref> Repeat infections are typically seen in areas with poor sanitation, and [[malnutrition]].<ref name=Web09/> [[Stunted growth]] and long-term cognitive delays can result.<ref name=M93/>

[[Reactive arthritis]] occurs in 1% of people following infections with ''Campylobacter'' species.<ref name=Bact2007/> [[Guillain–Barré syndrome]] occurs in 0.1%.<ref name=Bact2007/> [[Hemolytic uremic syndrome]] (HUS) may occur due to infection with [[Shiga toxin]]-producing ''Escherichia coli'' or ''Shigella'' species.<ref name=BMJ2007/> HUS causes [[thrombocytopenia|low platelet counts]], [[renal failure|poor kidney function]], and [[hemolytic anemia|low red blood cell count (due to their breakdown)]].<ref name="BMJ2007">{{cite journal|last=Elliott|first=EJ|title=Acute gastroenteritis in children.|journal=The BMJ|date=6 January 2007 |volume=334|issue=7583|pages=35–40|pmid=17204802|doi=10.1136/bmj.39036.406169.80|pmc=1764079}}</ref> Children are more predisposed to getting HUS than adults.<ref name=M93/> Some viral infections may produce [[Benign infantile epilepsy|benign infantile seizures]].<ref name=EBMED2010/>