Infectious diarrhea. Inflammatory or noninflammatory?

In 2009 a total of 351,506 cases of infectious diarrhea were reported to German public health authorities. The actual number is believed to be much higher because patients with mild forms of the disease often do not seek medical advice and in most cases the pathogens are not identified. In developed countries the majority of cases of infectious diarrhea are due to viral infections and in most cases are self-limiting lasting only a few days. Fluid therapy to correct dehydration is the most significant medical treatment. For this reason it is important for the attending physician to decide when specific diagnostic steps and empirical treatment with antibiotics are indicated while diagnostic results are pending. In order to facilitate the decision-making process the key is to distinguish between non-inflammatory and inflammatory infectious diarrhea based on the clinical presentation.