Viral gastroenteritis affects people in all parts of the world. Each virus has its own seasonal activity. For example, in the United States, rotavirus and astrovirus infections occur during the cooler months of the year (October to April), whereas adenovirus infections occur throughout the year.

Gastroenteritis means inflammation of the stomach and small and large intestines. Viral gastroenteritis is an infection caused by a variety of viruses that results in vomiting or diarrhea. It is often called the "stomach flu," although it is not caused by the influenza viruses.

Many different viruses can cause gastroenteritis, including rotaviruses, noroviruses, adenoviruses,type 40 or 41, sapoviruses, and astroviruses. Viral gastroenteritis is not caused by bacteria (such as Salmonella or Escherichia coli) or parasites (such as Giardia), or by medications or other medical conditions, although the symptoms may be similar. Your doctor can determine if the diarrhea is caused by a virus or by something else.

The main symptoms of viral gastroenteritis are watery diarrhea and vomiting. The affected person may also have headache, fever, and abdominal cramps ("stomach ache"). In general, the symptoms begin 1 to 2 days following infection with a virus that causes gastroenteritis and may last for 1 to 10 days, depending on which virus causes the illness.

For most people, it is not. People who get viral gastroenteritis almost always recover completely without any long-term problems. Gastroenteritis is a serious illness, however, for persons who are unable to drink enough fluids to replace what they lose through vomiting or diarrhea. Infants, young children, and persons who are unable to care for themselves, such as the disabled or elderly, are at risk for dehydration from loss of fluids.

Anyone can get it. Viral gastroenteritis occurs in people of all ages and backgrounds. However, some viruses tend to cause diarrheal disease primarily among people in specific age groups. Rotavirus and norovirus infections are the most common cause of diarrhea in infants and young children under 5 years old. Adenoviruses and astroviruses cause diarrhea mostly in young children, but older children and adults can also be affected.

Generally, viral gastroenteritis is diagnosed by a physician on the basis of the symptoms and medical examination of the patient. Rotavirus infection can be diagnosed by laboratory testing of a stool specimen. Tests to detect other viruses that cause gastroenteritis are not in routine use, but the viral gastroenteritis unit at CDC can assist with special analysis upon request.

The most important of treating viral gastroenteritis in children and adults is to prevent severe loss of fluids (dehydration). This treatment should begin at home. Your physician may give you specific instructions about what kinds of fluid to give. CDC recommends that families with infants and young children keep a supply of oral rehydration solution (ORS) at home at all times and use the solution when diarrhea first occurs in the child. ORS is available at pharmacies without a prescription.

Persons can reduce their chance of getting infected by frequent handwashing, prompt disinfection of contaminated surfaces with household chlorine bleach-based cleaners, and prompt washing of soiled articles of clothing. If food or water is thought to be contaminated, it should be avoided.

Currently there is a licensed rotavirus vaccine available that protects against severe diarrhea from rotavirus infection in infants and young children. Studies into a norovirus vaccine are underway.

Infections causing gastroenteritis can be spread by contaminated food or water or through an infected food handler. Individuals who are symptomatic with gastroenteritis can spread illness to others by touching handrails, elevator buttons, and shared utensils, as well as through direct intimate contact with others while they are ill.

CWD is relatively rare. In Colorado, for example, fewer than 200 cases, mostly in mule deer, have been documented since 1981. In checking hunter-harvested animals, less than 6% of deer and 1% of elk in north-central and northeastern Colorado were found to have CWD. Similar surveillance in southeastern Wyoming also indicated that less than 7% of deer had CWD. Deer and elk checked outside these areas in Colorado and Wyoming did not have CWD.

Gastrointestinal illness (gastroenteritis) is the inflammation of the stomach and small and large intestines. The main symptoms include vomiting and watery diarrhea. Other symptoms include fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, and headache. Infections causing gastroenteritis can be viral, bacterial, or parasitic in origin. Norovirus is a common cause of viral gastroenteritis found on cruise ships. Types of bacterial gastroenteritis infections include Escherichia coli and salmonella.

Food may be contaminated by food preparers or handlers who have viral gastroenteritis, especially if they do not wash their hands regularly after using the bathroom. Shellfish may be contaminated by sewage, and persons who eat raw or undercooked shellfish harvested from contaminated waters may get diarrhea. Drinking water can also be contaminated by sewage and be a source of spread of these viruses.

Another important measure in an HIV+ person is the HIV viral load. This HIV FAQ explains what the HIV viral load is and why it is important.

BSE was first observed in Great Britain in April 1985 and was officially diagnosed in 1986. By June 1990, some 14,000 cases were confirmed (out of an estimated population of 10 million cattle) in Great Britain. Since 1986, more than 185,000 cases of BSE have been confirmed in Great Britain. The epidemic peaked in 1992-93 at almost 1,000 new cases per week. Control measures have since reduced incidence of the disease, and currently fewer than 100 new cases are reported per week.

Fistula occurs when emergency obstetric care is not available to women who develop complications during childbirth. This is why women living in remote rural areas with little access to medical care are at risk. Before the medical advances of the 20th Century, fistula was quite common in Europe and the United States. Today, fistula is almost unheard of in high-income countries, or in countries where obstetric care is widely available.

In 2007, there are approximately 2 million people with limb loss in the United States (excluding fingers and toes). There are more than 185,000 new amputations preformed each year in this country. The prevalence rate in 1996 was 4.9 per 1,000 persons. The incidence rate was 46.2 per 100,000 persons with dysvascular disease, 5.86 per 100,000 persons secondary to trauma, 0.35 per 100,000 secondary to malignancy of a bone or joint. The birth prevalence of congenital limb deficiency in 1996 was 25.

Reproductive cloning involves removing all the DNA from a female egg, and the injection of DNA from an adult body cell (e.g. a skin cell). The cloning technique is called nuclear transfer, and is very similar to ICSI (intra cytoplasmic sperm injection) a procedure members of International Cloning Consortium have performed numerous times.

Sound enters your ears in sound waves. These sound waves hit your eardrum and are converted to pressure changes in the inner ear. This causes special nerves to impulse, which are read by your brain as sound. When these nerves are exposed to a surplus of pressure changes, they may become damaged. You may have noticed that if you listen to loud music for several hours that your ears "ring." This is a Temporary Threshold Shift, or a temporary reduction in hearing.

Withdrawal occurs when an opiate-addicted individual stops taking opioids. Withdrawal can begin in as little as a few hours after the last dose, but typically starts 12-24 hours after the last dose. A lot of times it begins with sweating, yawning, a runny nose and "teary"-eyes.

Conception, or fertilization, occurs when the male's sperm meets with the woman's ovum (egg) and successfully penetrates it. This typically takes place in one of the woman's fallopian tubes and the fertilized egg then travels to the uterus and implants in the uterine lining. For pregnancy to take place, fertilization of the egg must be followed by a successful implantation. Only one egg is released for fertilization in each menstrual cycle.

The usual causes of dehydration are a lot of diarrhoea and vomiting. Dehydration can also occur if you do not eat or drink much during an illness or if you do not drink enough during or after strenuous exercise. Medications that cause fluid loss to control excess body fluid (diuretics) are a common long-term cause.

The theory about this that makes most sense is called Trophotropism. The easiest way to explain this is to make a comparison to a plant. A plant will lean towards the sun to get the light it needs to survive. Since the lower segment of the uterus is not as nourishing as the upper segment, the placenta will grow to reach more nourishing tissue. The placental mass will erode away from the cervix, but the vessels can't. This also explains the velamentous insertion of the cord.

Your body has a natural defense system called the immune system that protects you from infection and disease. The immune system defends your body by producing "killer" cells that destroy foreign substances (such as viruses and bacteria). Since the donor organ doesn't match your old organ exactly, your body tries to destroy the transplanted organ. Essentially, a transplant creates a new disease called rejection. Rejection is nature's way of protecting your body.

The post-operative infection rate of surgical placement of a saline implant is estimated at less than 1-2 percent. This rate is the same as the expected infection rate of any "clean" surgery as well and is documented in existing surgical literature. Infection after breast augmentation is unusual but can be a serious problem. Infections usually developed in only one breast. If it were to occur , it most commonly happens within the first 10-14 days after surgery.

Almost everyone is exposed to low levels of asbestos in their lives. It exists in the air at extremely low concentration; levels are highest in urban and industrial areas. These fibers are released into the air during demolition work, remodeling, or other activity in which the material containing asbestos is disturbed. Asbestos may occur in tap water where such water passes through cement pipes containing the substance.

Preeclampsia can appear at any time during the pregnancy, delivery and up to six weeks post-partum, though it most frequently occurs in the final trimester and resolves within 48 hours of delivery. Preeclampsia can develop gradually, or come on quite suddenly, even flaring up in a matter of hours, though the signs and symptoms may have been present for months undetected or unnoticed.

Child abuse occur in the place where it is least expected; home, and from adults entrusted for the care of children; parents or guardians. In many cases, if the abuser is not a parent/guardian, s/he is certainly known to the child, especially in the case of sexual abuse.