Role of astroviruses in childhood diarrhea

Human astrovirus (HAstV) is a significant cause of acute diarrhea among chi ldren, resulting in outbreaks of diarrhea and occasionally in hospitalizati on. Improved detection methods for eight antigenic types of HAstV and studi es assessing the frequency and severity of HAstV diarrhea have further defi ned the impact of HAstV infections in children. These studies have shown th at HAstV infections are clinically milder (diarrhea, vomiting, fever) than rotavirus infections. However, frequent coinfection of HAstV with rotavirus and caliciviruses in childhood diarrhea complicates the epidemiology. Sero prevalence studies have provided evidence that the majority of children are infected by HAstV by 6 years of age. The route of transmission is probably fecal-oral from food or water sources. Recent and planned studies will hel p to define the epidemiology and in the future lead to prevention strategie s, which could include vaccination. Curr Opin Pediatr 2000, 12:275-279 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.