A 3-year-old boy is brought in by his parents with a 2-day history of diarrhea and vomiting. He has a mild fever and has been less active than usual. He attends daycare regularly. His stools are loose and watery without blood or mucus. What could be the potential causes?
Given the child's age, attendance at daycare, and symptoms, the most likely cause of his symptoms is a viral gastroenteritis, commonly caused by Rotavirus or Norovirus. Bacterial causes like E. coli or Salmonella are less likely but possible. Supportive care with oral rehydration is the mainstay of treatment. If symptoms persist, stool cultures may be necessary to rule out bacterial causes.