Gastroenteroviruses Infection in Taiwan

Abstract

Acute infectious gastroenteritis causes high morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. The most important cause of gastroenteritis is virus infection. Diarrhea is the dominant symptom of viral gastroenteritis. It subsequently induces dehydration and malnutrition, which contribute to high morbidity and mortality in children. In Taiwan, rotavirus is the major cause (30.4-48%) of infectious gastroenteritis, followed by adenovirus (9.1-19.8%), norovirus (8.2-25%), enterovirus (< 5.2 %), astrovirus (2.7-2.9%) and other viruses (including sapovirus)(< 1 %). Untreated gastroenteritis is the major cause of infantile mortality, which leads to human tragedy and economic burden. In Taiwan, the cost of admission or hospitalization associated with gastroenterovirus infection is about more than 40% of the monthly salary of an unskilled or service worker. Understanding the epidemiology of gastroenterovirus and its induced host immune response could benefit the development for prevention and therapeutic management of gastroenterovirus. This review summarizes the epidemiological information and current knowledge of gastroenteroviruses that cause gastroenteritis in Taiwan.