Viral gastroenteritis

The virology, immunology, diagnosis, clinical symptoms, treatment, epidemiology and prevention measures relating to the most common viral causes of acute gastroenteritis (rotaviruses, human caliciviruses, astroviruses and enteric adenoviruses) are briefly reviewed. Uncommon viral causes of acute gastroenteritis and viruses causing gastroenteritis in immunodeficient patients are mentioned. The main change over the past three years has been the development, licensing and wide application of new live attenuated rotavirus vaccines.