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Overview of viral gastroenteritis
1Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Archives of Virology. Supplementum
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Diarrheal illnesses remain a major global health concern, particularly for children. Recent discoveries of Norwalk-like viruses and rotaviruses have significantly advanced our understanding of viral gastroenteritis causes.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Diarrheal illnesses have historically caused significant mortality, especially in young children in developing nations.
- Despite advances, the etiology of many diarrheal cases remained unknown, with viruses suspected but unidentifiable.
Observation:
- Early virology efforts failed to identify key viral agents of gastroenteritis using then-available tissue culture technology.
- The discovery of Norwalk virus (1972) and rotaviruses (1973) revolutionized the study of viral gastroenteritis etiology.
- These discoveries occurred without reliance on in vitro tissue culture systems.
Findings:
- Rotaviruses are the primary cause of severe diarrheal illness in infants and young children globally.
- Norwalk virus is a significant cause of epidemic non-bacterial gastroenteritis in adults and older children.
- Norwalk-like viruses are now classified as caliciviruses, with ongoing molecular biologic research.
Implications:
- Advances in rotavirus research offer optimism for the future development of a rotavirus vaccine.
- Molecular studies of caliciviruses open new avenues for understanding and potentially controlling viral gastroenteritis.
- Improved understanding of viral gastroenteritis etiology is crucial for reducing child mortality and improving public health.