Astroviruses are second only to rotavirus as the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in children worldwide. Astroviruses cause predominantly diarrhea, mainly in children under five years old although it has been reported in adults elderly. Individuals suffering from poor nutritional status, severe mixed infection, or underlying gastrointestinal disease are at risk for the development of complications. Institutionalized patients and immunocompromised individuals (such as HIV-infected patients and bone marrow transplant recipients) have also been affected by astrovirus-associated gastroenteritis.
The genus “Astrovirus” within the familiy of Astroviridae is divided into eight human species:
| – human astrovirus 1 (HAstV-1) – human astrovirus 2 (HAstV-2) – human astrovirus 3 (HAstV-3) – human astrovirus 4 (HAstV-4) |
– human astrovirus 5 (HAstV-5) – human astrovirus 6 (HAstV-6) – human astrovirus 7 (HAstV-7) – human astrovirus 8 (HAstV-8) |
Astroviruses are transmitted from person to person by the fecal-oral route. Fecal-oral transmission has been verified by numerous volunteer. Contaminated water and food have occasionally been implicated as the cause of astrovirus outbreaks In temperate regions, most astrovirus infections are detected in the winter while in tropical climates, most astrovirus infections are noted in during the rainy season.
Following a 1-4 day incubation period, astrovirus infection typically presents as watery diarrhea that resembles a mild form of rotavirus gastroenteritis.
Symptoms
- Diarrhea
- Anorexia
- Fever
- Vomiting
- abdominal pain
Test options
A.I.I Panel : Acute intestinal Infections Panel
