Viral infections are usually much more contagious than bacterial infections, including intestinal viruses. The symptoms of infection are often very similar, so for accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to perform the Real-Time PCR test. In this post, we describe the most common gastrointestinal viruses.

Norovirus

GI/GII noroviruses are a common cause of gastrointestinal infections, especially in confined environments (e.g., hospitals, nursing homes, and kindergartens). Norovirus infections are especially dangerous in infants and young children, immunocompromised people, and the elderly.

Clinical symptoms: nausea, violent vomiting, abdominal pain, watery diarrhoea, loss of appetite, and fever.

Rotavirus

Rotavirus A accounts for 90% of all rotavirus infections and is responsible for most viral diarrhoea. The most susceptible to infection are children under 5 (especially between 6-24 months of age) and people over 65 years of age.

Clinical signs: watery diarrhoea with mucus, fever.

Adenovirus

Adenovirus F (serotypes 40 and 41), called intestinal adenovirus, is detected in 9% of children with gastrointestinal disorders. It is the third most common cause of diarrhoea after rotavirus and norovirus. The course of infection is generally mild, except for immunosuppressed patients who have fatalities.

Clinical symptoms: watery diarrhoea with mucus (up to 15 bowel movements per day), fever, vomiting.

Astrovirus

Astroviruses are viruses that cause diarrhoea in children under the age of seven. The virus is spread mainly through infected food and water, with the highest peak of disease occurring in the fall and winter. Typically, the infection lasts for 3-4 days and is mild and causes dehydration in rare cases.

Clinical symptoms: diarrhoea, vomiting, fever.

Saprovirus

Sapoviruses, like noroviruses, belong to the calicivirus family. They often cause epidemics of acute diarrhoea, mainly in children.

Clinical signs: nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea.

The genXone offer includes a molecular Real-Time PCR test identifying all the viruses listed abov, as well as a comprehensive panel diagnosing virus, bacterial and protozoal infections.