Final answer:
When investigating the cause of diarrhea, clinicians may perform a workup to determine the underlying cause. This typically involves examining fecal specimens for signs of infection or inflammation. Common causative agents can include bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
Step-by-step explanation:
When investigating the cause of diarrhea, clinicians may perform a workup to determine the underlying cause. This typically involves examining fecal specimens for signs of infection or inflammation. Multiple tests may be used, including stool O&P exam, immunoassay, serology, biopsy, molecular, and antibody detection tests. The common causative agents of diarrhea can include bacteria such as Vibrio cholerae, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter jejuni, and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), viruses like norovirus and rotavirus, and parasites such as Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum.
For example, if a student experiences abdominal cramping and watery diarrhea after a trip to Mexico, it could be traveler's diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC). In this case, a diagnostic lab test of the stool sample may be ordered to look for specific DNA sequences associated with ETEC.