Conditions
Acute diarrhea outpatient triage
Primary care triage for acute diarrhea with dehydration, infection severity, and escalation boundaries.
Last reviewed 2026-02-07|diarrhea | gastroenteritis | triage
Assessment priorities
- Define stool frequency/severity, blood presence, fever, and dehydration burden.
- Review travel, food exposure, recent antibiotics, and immunocompromise.
- Identify high-risk host factors requiring lower threshold for escalation.
Red flags
- Severe dehydration, hypotension, confusion, or inability to maintain oral intake.
- Bloody diarrhea with systemic toxicity or severe persistent abdominal pain.
- Immunocompromised status with rapidly progressive symptoms.
Initial management
- Prioritize oral rehydration, electrolyte replacement, and supportive care.
- Use selective testing when severity or epidemiology changes management decisions.
- Avoid unnecessary antimicrobials unless clear indication exists.
Follow-up and escalation
- Reassess early if symptoms fail to improve within expected interval.
- Escalate for worsening dehydration, bleeding, or signs of systemic instability.
- Provide explicit return precautions and infection-control counseling.