,DAN JONES
42-Year-Old Male With Acute Diarrhea
Advanced Differential Diagnosis Clinical Case Study
PAGE 1 — CASE SETUP
PATIENT PROFILE
Name: Dan Jones
Age: 42 years
Sex: Male
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
Weight: 180 lb (81.8 kg)
Setting: Outpatient clinic with laboratory, ECG, and radiographic capabilities
Reason for Encounter: Diarrhea
CHIEF COMPLAINT
“I've been having frequent watery diarrhea for the past several days.”
CLINICAL OBJECTIVE
Evaluate an adult male with acute diarrhea and determine:
• Duration and severity of symptoms
• Degree of dehydration
• Presence of inflammatory or invasive features
• Potential infectious exposures
• Medication-related causes
• Need for laboratory or stool testing
• Appropriate management and follow-up
PAGE 2 — OPENING ENCOUNTER
, Dan arrives at the outpatient clinic independently.
He reports that he has been experiencing frequent loose stools for approximately four days.
Initially, he thought the symptoms would resolve on their own, but the diarrhea has continued.
He states that he has needed to use the bathroom several times each day and has become
increasingly concerned about dehydration.
PATIENT'S INITIAL STATEMENT
“It started a few days ago. At first I thought it was something I ate, but it hasn't really gone
away.”
INITIAL CLINICAL PRIORITIES
The clinician should first establish:
1. When the diarrhea began
2. Number of stools per day
3. Stool consistency
4. Presence of blood or mucus
5. Fever
6. Vomiting
7. Abdominal pain
8. Hydration status
9. Recent travel
10. Food exposure
11. Antibiotic exposure
12. Sick contacts
PAGE 3 — HISTORY OF PRESENT
ILLNESS
Dan reports that the diarrhea began approximately four days ago.
During the first day, he experienced approximately three loose stools. The frequency increased
over the following two days.
He now reports approximately five to seven watery bowel movements per day.
The stool is predominantly watery without obvious gross blood.
42-Year-Old Male With Acute Diarrhea
Advanced Differential Diagnosis Clinical Case Study
PAGE 1 — CASE SETUP
PATIENT PROFILE
Name: Dan Jones
Age: 42 years
Sex: Male
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
Weight: 180 lb (81.8 kg)
Setting: Outpatient clinic with laboratory, ECG, and radiographic capabilities
Reason for Encounter: Diarrhea
CHIEF COMPLAINT
“I've been having frequent watery diarrhea for the past several days.”
CLINICAL OBJECTIVE
Evaluate an adult male with acute diarrhea and determine:
• Duration and severity of symptoms
• Degree of dehydration
• Presence of inflammatory or invasive features
• Potential infectious exposures
• Medication-related causes
• Need for laboratory or stool testing
• Appropriate management and follow-up
PAGE 2 — OPENING ENCOUNTER
, Dan arrives at the outpatient clinic independently.
He reports that he has been experiencing frequent loose stools for approximately four days.
Initially, he thought the symptoms would resolve on their own, but the diarrhea has continued.
He states that he has needed to use the bathroom several times each day and has become
increasingly concerned about dehydration.
PATIENT'S INITIAL STATEMENT
“It started a few days ago. At first I thought it was something I ate, but it hasn't really gone
away.”
INITIAL CLINICAL PRIORITIES
The clinician should first establish:
1. When the diarrhea began
2. Number of stools per day
3. Stool consistency
4. Presence of blood or mucus
5. Fever
6. Vomiting
7. Abdominal pain
8. Hydration status
9. Recent travel
10. Food exposure
11. Antibiotic exposure
12. Sick contacts
PAGE 3 — HISTORY OF PRESENT
ILLNESS
Dan reports that the diarrhea began approximately four days ago.
During the first day, he experienced approximately three loose stools. The frequency increased
over the following two days.
He now reports approximately five to seven watery bowel movements per day.
The stool is predominantly watery without obvious gross blood.
