22.0

Question 1

norovirus

Answer 1

• important cause of viral gastroenteritis outbreaks
• extremely contagious
• virus in aerosolised vomit is an important route of transmission

Question 2

norovirus causes

Answer 2

winter vomiting disease
self limiting illness of profuse vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps
cause of outbreaks in healthcare facilities
public health interventions required to prevent the spread of infection
no specific treatment and no vaccine

Question 3

sapovirus

Answer 3

• originally described in Sapporo, Japan
• transmission is person to person or via contaminated surfaces, water and food
• causes mild gastro illness
• no specific treatment and no vaccine

Question 4

rotavirus

Answer 4

the most common causes of severe diarrhoea illness in children

• immunity develops after infection and subsequent infections are less severe
• transmission via faecal-oral route
• vomiting, diarrhoea and fever
• diarrhoea may persist causing severe dehydration

Question 5

does sanitation prevent rotavirus

Answer 5

no

vaccine preventable, two oral vaccines available in Australia

Question 6

astrovirus

Answer 6

star like surface structure
transmission by ingestion of contaminated food or water
mild to moderate gastro with diarrhoea and vomiting persisting 3-4 days
no specific treatment and no vaccine

Question 7

adenovirus

Answer 7

respiratory and upper airways infections
cold, pharyngitis, pneumonia
causes gastro in infants and occasionally children and adults
1-2 weeks of mild to moderate symptoms
infants may develop inflammation of lymph nodes
can cause severe abdominal pain (mesenteric lymphadenitis) and bowel obstruction

Question 8

diagnosis of viral gastroenteritis

Answer 8

usually self limiting and does not require diagnosis
in severe or prolonged cases, or health care associated cases, diagnosis its required
electron microscopy of faeces is no longer routinely performed - serological tests are neither sensitive nor specific
polymerase chain reaction assays of stool or vomit specimens are preferred
PCR can give results in a few hours

Question 9

treatment of viral gastro

Answer 9

• usually self limiting
• no specific agents available
• fluids to prevent dehydration
• fluids and electrolytes to treat dehydration, intravenous therapy if shocked
• continue normal diet once rehydrated
• anti-pyretics if febrile, non-opioid analgesia to treat pain eg. paracaetamol
• avoid anti emetics and anti diarhhoeal agents
• probiotics may improve symptoms of rotavirus diarrhoea, but benefits are modest and data is limited