User:Hns246

The article I selected was Human Astrovirus. There is a current article on astrovirus in general that I felt would be more beneficial to add to, rather than creating a whole new article for the strain that affects humans. Therefore, I will be adding to the section concerning the virus in humans, commenting a little more about its general affects on various populations.

Astroviruses are small, non enveloped icosahedral viruses, with smooth margins and a star-like EM appearance.

Not well studied in humans

diarrhea and presence of viral particles in intestinal epithelial cells suggest is replicates in the intestinal tissue of humans

1-4 day incubation period- presents as water diarrhea

seen in young children 6 months-2years of age

Not usually serious, but those suffering from malnutrition, immunodeficiency, severe mixed infection or underlying gastrointestinal disease, at risk for developing secondary complications

Young children and institutionalized elderly are populations that develop symptomatic infection- antibody acquired in early childhood, provides protection in adulthood and wanes in later life

EPIDEMIOLOGY

Transmission: through fecal oral route- contaminated water or food

Symptoms= vomiting, diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain= variation depends on region

Death is extremely rare

'''Trayner, Jennifer. "The Epidemiology of Astroviruses." Stanford Medicine. Stanford University, 16 Jan. 1998. Web. 14 Oct. 2016.'''

Treatment= usually a mild, self-limiting disease, does not require any specific treatment unless the individual is dehydrated, may require intravenous or oral rehydration]

pathogenesis Not been studied well in humans, studied in calves, lambs

'''Bass, Dorsey M. "Astroviruses." - Infectious Disease and Antimicrobial Agents. Antimicrobe, 2010. Web. 14 Oct. 2016.'''

ARTICLE EXERPT:edited

Members of a relatively new virus family, the astroviridae, astroviruses are now recognised as a cause of gastroenteritis in children, whose immune systems are underdeveloped, and elderly adults, whose immune systems are generally somewhat comprised. Presence of viral particles in fecal matter and in epithelial intestinal cells indicate that the virus replicates in the gastrointestinal tract of humans. The main symptoms are diarrhoea, followed by nausea, vomiting, fever, malaise and abdominal pain. Some research studies have shown that the incubation period of the disease is approximately three to four days. Astrovirus infection is not usually a severe situation and only in some rare cases leads to dehydration. The severity and variation in symptoms correlates with the region the case develops in. Malnutrition and immunodeficiency tend to exasperate the condition, leading to more severe cases or secondary conditions that could require hospital care. Otherwise, infected people do not need hospitalization because symptoms will reduce by themselves, after a short time.[4]