Norovirus GII-4 causes a more severe gastroenteritis than other noroviruses in young children.

Huhti, Leena; Szakal, Evelin D; Puustinen, Leena; Salminen, Marjo; Huhtala, Heini; Valve, Oona; Blazevic, Vesna; Vesikari, Timo · J Infect Dis · 2011

prospective_cohort · Level II

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Abstract

Norovirus (NoV) GII-4 has emerged as the predominant NoV genotype in outbreaks of gastroenteritis worldwide. We determined clinical features of NoV GII-4 associated acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in comparison with AGE associated with other NoV types in infants during seasons 2001 and 2002. During the prospective follow-up period, 128 primary infections of AGE due to NoV were identified in 405 infants; of these, GII-4 was found in 40 cases (31%). NoV GII-4 was associated with longer duration of diarrhea and vomiting than other NoV genotypes, suggesting greater virulence of NoV GII-4.

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