CDC Criteria for Gastroenteritis

 

Criteria 1 - both of the following:

(1) acute onset of diarrhea (liquid stools for more than 12 hours) with or without vomiting or fever (> 38°C)

(2) no likely noninfectious cause

 

Criteria 2 - all of the following:

(1) at least two of the following:

(1a) nausea

(1b) vomiting

(1c) abdominal pain

(1d) headache

(2) no other recognized cause

(3) at least one of the following:

(3a) enteric pathogen isolated from stool culture or rectal swab

(3b) enteric pathogen detected by routine examination

(3c) enteric pathogen detected by electron microscopy examination

(3d) enteric pathogen detected by antigen or antibody assay on feces

(3e) enteric pathogen detected by antigen or antibody assay on blood

(3f) evidence of enteric pathogen detected by toxin assay (cytopathic changes in tissue culture, etc.)

(3g) diagnostic single IgM antibody titer in serum for pathogen

(3h) fourfold increase in IgG antibody titer in paired serum samples for pathogen