Gastroenteritis Flashcards
(21 cards)
What is defined as inflammation of the stomach and intestine?
Gastroenteritis
What is the main feature of viral gastroenteritis?
Acute watery diarrhea
others: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, malaise, anorexia, myalgia, HA
Replication of virus causing gastroenteritis occurs where?
Small intestine epithelial cells
How long does a disease by viral gastroenteritis typically last?
Short duration (< 1 wk)
How does virus shedding typically occur with viral gastroenteritis?
Virus shed at low levels for days to weeks after illness
Patients with viral gastroenteritis and prone to secondary infection until what?
Tissue damage is repaired
What is the treatment for viral gastroenteritis?
Oral rehydration therapy
NO ABX
What are the 2 most common causative agents of viral gastroenteritis?
Norovirus (#1 cause of gastroenteritis) and rotavirus
also sapovirus, astrovirus, enteric adenovirus
What is the single most common cause of food born illness in the US?
Norovirus
How does norovirus contribute to hospitalizations?
Second most common (rarely causes death)
How is infection via norovirus transmitted?
Direct contact (person to person or contaminated object) (also persistent in environment)
What is the structure of norovirus
Naked, capsid composed of single protein
naked tend to be more persistent
Norovirus is a member of which family? (along with sapovirus)
Caliciviridae
How is norovirus controlled/ prevented?
Handwashing, safe food handeling
Is there a vaccine for norovirus?
No, immunological memory short lived
How is norovirus diagnosed?
Gold standard = RT-qPCR assays (test stool, vomitus, food, water, environmental specimens)
(can also use EIAs but not very effective)
What is the most common cause of infant gastroenteritis?
Rotavirus (hospitalization common in children)
When during the year is rotavirus most common?
Winter/ spring season (follows predictable and regular pattern)
What is the structure of rotavirus?
dsRNA virus
How is rotavirus prevented?
Handwashing, safe food handling, vaccination
What is gold standard for diagnosing rotavirus?
RT-qPCR assays (stool samples)
can also use electron microscopy to image viral particles in stool sample
