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Diagnosis of Viral Gastroenteritis (“Stomach Flu”) - NIDDK
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<li class="ln-collapsed"> <a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases/viral-gastroenteritis/clinical-trials">Clinical Trials</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <article class="dk-content"> <h1 itemprop="name">Diagnosis of Viral Gastroenteritis (“Stomach Flu”)</h1> <div class="health-detail-content"> <h2>How do doctors diagnose viral gastroenteritis?</h2> <p>Doctors often diagnose viral gastroenteritis based on your symptoms. If your symptoms are mild and last only a short time, you typically won’t need tests.</p> <p>In some cases, a medical history, a physical exam, and <a href="/Dictionary/S/stool" class="dictionary-term">stool</a> tests can help diagnose viral gastroenteritis. Your doctor may perform additional tests to check for other health problems.</p> <h3>Medical history</h3> <p>Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms, for example</p> <ul> <li>what symptoms you have</li> <li>how long you have had symptoms</li> <li>how often you have had symptoms</li> </ul> <p>Your doctor may also ask you about</p> <ul> <li>recent contacts with other people who are sick</li> <li>recent travel</li> <li>current and past medical conditions</li> <li>prescription and over-the-counter medicines you take</li> </ul> <h3>Physical exam</h3> <p>During a physical exam, your doctor may</p> <ul> <li>check your <a href="/Dictionary/B/blood-pressure" class="dictionary-term">blood pressure</a> and pulse for signs of <a href="/Dictionary/D/dehydration" class="dictionary-term">dehydration</a></li> <li>examine you for signs of fever or dehydration</li> <li>use a stethoscope to listen to sounds in your <a href="/Dictionary/A/abdomen" class="dictionary-term">abdomen</a></li> <li>tap on your abdomen to check for tenderness or pain</li> </ul> <figure class="small center"> <img src="/-/media/Images/Health-Information/Digestive-Diseases/blood_pressure_330x220.png" alt="A doctor checking a patient’s blood pressure."> <figcaption>During a physical exam, your doctor may check your blood pressure and pulse for signs of dehydration.</figcaption> </figure> <p>Sometimes, doctors perform a digital rectal exam. Your doctor will have you bend over a table or lie on your side while holding your knees close to your chest. After putting on a glove, the doctor will slide a lubricated finger into your <a href="/Dictionary/A/anus" class="dictionary-term">anus</a> to check for blood in your stool. Blood in your stool may be a sign of health conditions other than viral gastroenteritis that may be causing your symptoms.</p> <h3>Stool tests</h3> <p>A health care professional will give you a container for catching and storing the stool. You will receive instructions on where to send or take the container for analysis. Stool tests can show signs of infection, inflammation, and digestive diseases and disorders.</p> </div> <div class="dk-review-date">Last Reviewed May 2018</div> <div id="9ce3f3ba909046708465b43b24fc0316" class="dk-share"> <span>Share<span class="sr-only"> this page</span></span> <div class="dk-share-buttons" data-lang="en"> <button type="button" class="shr-print" title="Print this page" onclick="window.print();return false;">Print</button> <a class="shr-facebook no-disclaimer" title="Share this page on Facebook" href="#share-9ce3f3ba909046708465b43b24fc0316" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Facebook</a> <a class="shr-x no-disclaimer" title="Post this page on X" href="#share-9ce3f3ba909046708465b43b24fc0316" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">X</a> <a class="shr-email" title="Email this page" href="#share-9ce3f3ba909046708465b43b24fc0316" target="_self" rel="nofollow noopener">Email</a> <button type="button" class="shr-more" title="More sharing options" aria-expanded="false">More Options</button> <a class="shr-whatsapp no-disclaimer" title="Share this page via WhatsApp" href="#share-9ce3f3ba909046708465b43b24fc0316" target="_self" rel="nofollow noopener">WhatsApp</a> <a class="shr-linkedin no-disclaimer" title="Share this page on LinkedIn" href="#share-9ce3f3ba909046708465b43b24fc0316" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">LinkedIn</a> <a class="shr-reddit no-disclaimer" title="Share this page on Reddit" href="#share-9ce3f3ba909046708465b43b24fc0316" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Reddit</a> <a class="shr-pinterest no-disclaimer" title="Share this page on Pinterest" href="#share-9ce3f3ba909046708465b43b24fc0316" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Pinterest</a> <button type="button" class="shr-copy" title="Copy a link for sharing to the clipboard">Copy Link</button> </div> <script src="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/scripts/modules/social-share.js" type="module"></script> </div> <div class="previous-next " > <a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases/viral-gastroenteritis/symptoms-causes"> <div> <em>Previous:</em> Symptoms & Causes </div> </a> <a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases/viral-gastroenteritis/treatment"> <div> <em>Next:</em> Treatment </div> </a> </div> <div class="disclaimer"> <p> This content is provided as a service of the <a href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/">National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases</a> (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. 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