The role of the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in distinguishing viral, bacterial, and parasitic acute gastroenteritis: A prospective study

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, which has not been studied sufficiently to determine the cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. Methods: The prospective, observational study included patients diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis who were treated at Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Application and Research Center, Emergency Medicine Clinic between 1 September 2020 and 31 May 2021. Demographic characteristics, as well as neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, white blood cell count, and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, were compared across the viral, bacterial, and parasitic acute gastroenteritis groups. Results: A total of 168 acute gastroenteritis patients, 31 of whom had parasitic, 39 bacterial and 98 viral etiologies, were included in this study. Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio was 2.73 (4.03) in the viral acute gastroenteritis group, 4.58 (8.61) in the bacterial acute gastroenteritis group, and 4.52 (5.49) in the parasite acute gastroenteritis group. A statistically significant difference was found among the groups regarding neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio ( P =0.022). However, post-hoc analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio among the groups ( P >0.05). Conclusions: Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio alone cannot distinguish etiological causes in patients admitted to the Emergency Medicine Clinic diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis.