What is the typical stool finding in viral gastroenteritis?

What is the typical stool finding in viral gastroenteritis?

• A. Positive fecal leukocytes
• B. Negative for fecal leukocytes
• C. Positive fecal leukocytes with culture
• D. Negative for fecal leukocytes and culture

Answer: (D)

Viral gastroenteritis is typically noninflammatory, so the stool usually lacks white blood cells. Fecal leukocytes indicate mucosal inflammation, which is more common with bacterial infections that invade or inflame the gut lining. Since the cause is viral, routine bacterial stool cultures are also negative because there isn’t a bacterial pathogen to grow. Put together, negative fecal leukocytes and negative culture best fit a viral etiology, making this combination the expected finding.

Viral gastroenteritis is typically noninflammatory, so the stool usually lacks white blood cells. Fecal leukocytes indicate mucosal inflammation, which is more common with bacterial infections that invade or inflame the gut lining. Since the cause is viral, routine bacterial stool cultures are also negative because there isn’t a bacterial pathogen to grow. Put together, negative fecal leukocytes and negative culture best fit a viral etiology, making this combination the expected finding.