Acute Gastroenteritis Viruses

• Acute diarrhea is the leading cause of morbidity and second commonest cause of mortality in children <5 years old worldwide. • Most acute diarrheal illnesses are caused by viruses. • Noroviruses are the commonest cause of diarrhea in all age groups combined, and rotaviruses are still the leading cause of diarrhea for children <5 years old. • Transmission is mainly by the fecal–oral route through person-to-person contact, contaminated food and water. • Most cases of viral diarrhea are mild and self-limiting, but severe cases occur, leading to dehydration and death. Repeated episodes lead to malnutrition. • Most cases can be managed at home with oral rehydration solutions and feeding a regular diet. • Vaccines will be the best preventive measure. Only rotavirus vaccines are available. • Breast-feeding, vitamin A supplementation and zinc significantly reduce the frequency and/or severity of diarrhea.