Gastrointestinal Infections in the Athlete

Gastrointestinal (GI) infections can be troublesome and debilitating to athletes and difficult to manage for sports medicine physicians. A clinician should obtain a comprehensive medical history of the athlete whenever symptoms of the GI tract appear. The predominant chief complaint in GI infections is diarrhea. Athletes may need a comprehensive physical examination to appropriately diagnose the ailment and to determine the need for more aggressive treatment. Multiple laboratory tests exist to aid in diagnosing the infectious pathogen causing gastroenteritis. This article discusses GI infections caused by viral, parasitic, bacterial, and food-borne infectious pathogens. The epidemiology, pathogenesis, history, symptoms, mode of transmission, laboratory detection, treatment, and prevention of these infections are reviewed.