This chapter discusses the causes, pathophysiology, immunology, treatment, and epidemiology of viral
gastroenteritis. Acute
gastroenteritis is one of the most common illnesses affecting humans and may be caused by a large variety of different microbes.
Infection with
gastroenteritis agents can be asymptomatic or can be followed by mild or severe disease, including
vomiting or
diarrhea or both, and can be fatal because of severe
dehydration. The spectrum of causative agents differs in developed and developing countries. Besides rotaviruses (RVs) as the main etiologic agent, there are many other viral causes of
diarrhea. The main diarrheagenic agents comprise four virus families: RVs, enteric adenoviruses (Ads), human caliciviruses (CVs), and astroviruses. Treatment of
infantile diarrhea is mainly by oral or intravenous
rehydration. Several formulas of
oral rehydration solution (
ORS) have been devised and are recommended.