Astroviruses cause gastroenteritis, predominantly diarrhea, usually in children under five years old although it has been reported in adults. Studies show that more than 80% of children between 5 and 10 years old have antibodies to astroviruses, suggesting they have been exposed to it at some point. Occasional outbreaks in schools, nurseries and families have been reported. However, the number of infections may be under-estimated, since the illness is usually mild, and many cases go unreported. The illness is self-limiting, has a short duration and incidences peak in the winter....
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Adenovirus is a group of viruses responsible for a spectrum of respiratory disease as well as infection of the stomach and intestine (gastroenteritis), eyes (conjunctivitis), bladder (cystitis) and rash. Adenovirus respiratory diseases include a strain of the common cold, pneumonia, croup, and bronchitis. Patients with compromised immune systems are especially susceptible to severe complications of adenovirus infection. Acute respiratory disease (ARD), a disorder first recognized among military recruits during World War II, can be caused by adenovirus infections under conditions of crowds and stress. It has been labeled the "killer...
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Viruses are too small to be seen by the naked eye. They are made up of genetic materials (DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protective coat of protein. They are capable of latching onto cells and getting inside them. Viruses cause disease by infecting a host cell and controlling the host cell's synthetic capabilities to produce more viruses. The new created viruses then leave the host cell, sometimes killing it in the process, and proceed to infect other cells within the host.Most of the time, viral infections are systemic. This...
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