Epidemic viral gastroenteritis

Article By:

Glass, Roger I. Viral Gastroenteritis Unit, Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia.

Last reviewed:December 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.237600

A clinical syndrome of viral origin characterized by acute infectious inflammation of the stomach and intestine with watery diarrhea, vomiting, malaise and abdominal cramps. Epidemic viral gastroenteritis has a relatively short incubation period (12–36 h) and duration (24–48 h). A viral etiology is suspected when bacterial and parasitic agents are not found. In the United States, no etiologic agent can be found in 70% of the outbreaks of gastroenteritis. Most of these may be the result of viral agents, including noroviruses [in particular, the Norwalk virus (see illustration)], astroviruses, caliciviruses, adenoviruses, nongroup A rotaviruses and parvoviruses. Epidemics are common worldwide. They typically occur following the consumption of fecally contaminated raw shellfish, food, or water, although the virus may be spread by airborne droplets as well. Epidemics are most frequent in residential homes, camps, institutions and cruise ships. Many individual cases of mild diarrhea may in fact occur in epidemics for which the source of the infection cannot be found. Epidemic viral gastroenteritis is distinct from rotavirus diarrhea, which is a seasonal disease in winter that is the most common cause of diarrhea in young children, especially those in the first 4 years of life. See also: Diarrhea; Epidemic; Infant diarrhea; Virus; Virus classification

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