How do you confirm gastroenteritis?

A doctor will diagnose gastroenteritis by first taking a complete history of your symptoms. Often, lab test are not needed to diagnose this condition. However, if you have persistent fever or blood in your stool, stool study tests may be ordered. Rarely, ultrasounds, X-rays, or CT scans may be helpful in diagnosis.

What can be mistaken for gastroenteritis?

Viral meningitis is an infection of the tissue that covers the spinal cord and brain. It's caused by the same viruses that are associated with gastroenteritis. If you have viral meningitis, you might have symptoms that overlap with gastroenteritis, like fever, vomiting, or loss of appetite.