Etymed
gastroenteritis
Definition
inflammation of the stomach and intestinal lining, typically causing nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Clinical context
A 28-year-old woman presents to the urgent care clinic with a 2-day history of watery diarrhea, nausea, and crampy abdominal pain. She reports no fever or blood in her stool. She recently returned from a beach vacation and consumed seafood at multiple restaurants. Stool culture would likely reveal viral or bacterial pathogens causing this inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal mucosa.
Mnemonic
GASTROenteritis = GUTS (gastrointestinal) = Gastric, intestinal inflammation causing nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea