Astroviruses can cause a gastroenteritis with diarrhea. Its diagnosis will increase as molecular techniques improve.
Astroviruses are non-enveloped, positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses. It can be isolated from a broad range of mammals and birds.
Mode of spread: fecal-oral of contaminated food and water
Spread can be controlled by hand-washing, cleaning of fomites and water decontamination.
Astroviruses most often cause viral gastroenteritis in children. Less often is gastroenteritis in the elderly.
Clinical features of the gastroenteritis:
(1) water diarrhea for 2-3 days
(2) vomiting
(3) fever
(4) anorexia
(5) abdominal pain
Immunocompromised patients may develop:
(1) viral gastroenteritis
(2) meningitis
(3) systemic disease
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Specialty: Infectious Diseases, Gastroenterology
