Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Astrovirus is a group of viruses that causesgastroenteritis(stomach flu). Infants and young children are most likely to develop symptoms, including diarrhea, nausea, and upset stomach. Older adults and people with compromised immune systems are also at risk.
Though astrovirus causes symptoms similar to other viraldiarrheal diseases, such asrotavirus and norovirus, it is far less severe and rarely requires medical treatment.
This article takes you through the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of astrovirus, including ways to prevent passing or getting the infection.
Symptoms of Astrovirus Infection
Verywell / JR Bee
In addition to loose or watery stools, symptoms of astrovirus may include:
The symptoms are usually mild and resolve on their own without treatment. Hospitalization is rarely needed. Healthy people generally recover within a few days.
In some cases, a person can beasymptomatic(without symptoms) and not even know they’ve been infected. Despite having no symptoms, they can stillpass the virus to others.
Signs of Stomach Flu and When to See a Healthcare Provider
How Do You Get Astrovirus?
Astrovirus is passed when stool containing the virus is accidentally ingested. This is usually caused when traces of stool are found on hands or objects.
If you accidentally touch a contaminated hand or surface and then your own mouth (called thefecal-oral route), you can get infected.
It only takes a small exposure to astrovirus to make a person sick. Once a person is infected, the virus will continually be shed into fecal matter (stools).
Even when the person starts to feel better, they may still be shedding virus and can continue to infect others.
While it is less common than other diarrhea-causing viruses, astroviruses still account for 2% to 9% of all pediatric gastroenteritis cases in the world.
How Long Is Astrovirus Contagious?Most astrovirus infections last for four days or less. The disease is potentially infectious from the moment symptoms appear until a few days after symptoms have cleared.
How Long Is Astrovirus Contagious?
Most astrovirus infections last for four days or less. The disease is potentially infectious from the moment symptoms appear until a few days after symptoms have cleared.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for astrovirus include:
Climate, age, and immune health also factor into your risk.
Climate
Astroviruses are present year-round and can cause illness at any time of the year. With that said, astrovirus tends to spike in certain seasons.
Where climates are temperate, infections are common in the autumn and early winter months. In tropical climates, astrovirus rates are highest during the rainy season.
AgeBabies, children under 2, and older adults are at increased risk for astrovirus. They are also most likely to experience complications likedehydration.
However, immunity tends to wane over time, which is why older age is a risk factor.
Immune Health
People withcompromised immune systems(such as those being treated for cancer or living with HIV) are more likely to get astrovirus and experience related dehydration.
The body is not able to fight off this “intruder” the way it normally could if the immune system was functioning optimally.
How Astrovirus Is Diagnosed
Astrovirus can usually be diagnosed with a combination of a physical exam, a review of your medical history, and stool testing.
Based on a review of your symptoms and risk factors, your healthcare provider may decide to treat you presumptively if your symptoms are mild.
In other cases, your practitioner may order a battery of tests to identify the specific cause of your diarrhea, especially if the symptoms are severe or there is a local outbreak of diarrheal disease.
The tests may include:
The test results are usually ready in one to three days. A positive result means that you have been infected with astrovirus. A negative result means that you have not been infected.
Your healthcare provider may also order other tests that further evaluate the degree of infection and rule out complications like dehydration.
They include:
Astrovirus gets its name from its star-like appearance when viewed under a microscope.
How Do You Treat Astrovirus?
Currently, there are no drugs or vaccines available for the prevention or treatment of viral gastroenteritis.
As such, the treatment for an astrovirus infection is focused on managing symptoms like nausea and diarrhea.
There are several ways to treat stomach flu:
*Avoid these medications and see your healthcare provider if you have a fever or blood diarrhea. You may have a bacterial or parasitic infection, not a virus.
Treating ChildrenImodium, Pepto-Bismol, and Kaopectate should never be used in children without first speaking with a pediatrician. These drugs can be harmful to babies and toddlers.
Treating Children
Imodium, Pepto-Bismol, and Kaopectate should never be used in children without first speaking with a pediatrician. These drugs can be harmful to babies and toddlers.
How to Prevent Astrovirus
There are things you can do to avoid getting or spreading astrovirus:
Summary
Astroviruses are one of several types of viruses known to cause gastroenteritis (“stomach flu”). While most infections are mild, care should be taken to avoid infection in people at the greatest risk, including infants, older adults, or those with advanced HIV.
Good hygiene and sanitary practices, along with healthy nutrition, can go a long way toward preventing astrovirus infection in people who are vulnerable.
24-Hour Stomach Bug
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jeong HS, Jeong A, Cheon DS.Epidemiology of astrovirus infection in children.Korean J Pediatr. 2012;55(3):77–82. doi:10.3345/kjp.2012.55.3.77Bosch A, Pintó RM, Guix S.Human astroviruses.Clin Microbiol Rev. 2014;27(4):1048-1074. doi:10.1128/CMR.00013-14Vu DL, Bosch A, Pintó RM, Ribes E, Guix S.Human astrovirus MLB replication: persistence in extraintestinal cell lines.J Virol.2019;93(13):e00557. doi:10.1128/JVI.00557-19National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment of viral gastroenteritis (“stomach flu”).Pérot P, Lecuit M, Eloit M.Astrovirus diagnostics.Viruses. 2017;9(1):10. doi:10.3390/v9010010Pérot P, Lecuit M, Eloit M.Astrovirus diagnostics.Viruses. 2017;9(1):10. doi:10.3390/v9010010MedlinePlus.Complete blood count (CBC).MedlinePlus.Complete metabolic panel (CMP).Additional ReadingJeong HS, Jeong A, Cheon D-S.Epidemiology of astrovirus infection in children.Kor J Ped. 2012;55(3):77. doi:10.3345/kjp.2012.55.3.77
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jeong HS, Jeong A, Cheon DS.Epidemiology of astrovirus infection in children.Korean J Pediatr. 2012;55(3):77–82. doi:10.3345/kjp.2012.55.3.77Bosch A, Pintó RM, Guix S.Human astroviruses.Clin Microbiol Rev. 2014;27(4):1048-1074. doi:10.1128/CMR.00013-14Vu DL, Bosch A, Pintó RM, Ribes E, Guix S.Human astrovirus MLB replication: persistence in extraintestinal cell lines.J Virol.2019;93(13):e00557. doi:10.1128/JVI.00557-19National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment of viral gastroenteritis (“stomach flu”).Pérot P, Lecuit M, Eloit M.Astrovirus diagnostics.Viruses. 2017;9(1):10. doi:10.3390/v9010010Pérot P, Lecuit M, Eloit M.Astrovirus diagnostics.Viruses. 2017;9(1):10. doi:10.3390/v9010010MedlinePlus.Complete blood count (CBC).MedlinePlus.Complete metabolic panel (CMP).Additional ReadingJeong HS, Jeong A, Cheon D-S.Epidemiology of astrovirus infection in children.Kor J Ped. 2012;55(3):77. doi:10.3345/kjp.2012.55.3.77
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Jeong HS, Jeong A, Cheon DS.Epidemiology of astrovirus infection in children.Korean J Pediatr. 2012;55(3):77–82. doi:10.3345/kjp.2012.55.3.77Bosch A, Pintó RM, Guix S.Human astroviruses.Clin Microbiol Rev. 2014;27(4):1048-1074. doi:10.1128/CMR.00013-14Vu DL, Bosch A, Pintó RM, Ribes E, Guix S.Human astrovirus MLB replication: persistence in extraintestinal cell lines.J Virol.2019;93(13):e00557. doi:10.1128/JVI.00557-19National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment of viral gastroenteritis (“stomach flu”).Pérot P, Lecuit M, Eloit M.Astrovirus diagnostics.Viruses. 2017;9(1):10. doi:10.3390/v9010010Pérot P, Lecuit M, Eloit M.Astrovirus diagnostics.Viruses. 2017;9(1):10. doi:10.3390/v9010010MedlinePlus.Complete blood count (CBC).MedlinePlus.Complete metabolic panel (CMP).
Jeong HS, Jeong A, Cheon DS.Epidemiology of astrovirus infection in children.Korean J Pediatr. 2012;55(3):77–82. doi:10.3345/kjp.2012.55.3.77
Bosch A, Pintó RM, Guix S.Human astroviruses.Clin Microbiol Rev. 2014;27(4):1048-1074. doi:10.1128/CMR.00013-14
Vu DL, Bosch A, Pintó RM, Ribes E, Guix S.Human astrovirus MLB replication: persistence in extraintestinal cell lines.J Virol.2019;93(13):e00557. doi:10.1128/JVI.00557-19
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment of viral gastroenteritis (“stomach flu”).
Pérot P, Lecuit M, Eloit M.Astrovirus diagnostics.Viruses. 2017;9(1):10. doi:10.3390/v9010010
MedlinePlus.Complete blood count (CBC).
MedlinePlus.Complete metabolic panel (CMP).
Jeong HS, Jeong A, Cheon D-S.Epidemiology of astrovirus infection in children.Kor J Ped. 2012;55(3):77. doi:10.3345/kjp.2012.55.3.77
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