1540. Clinical severity across five viral diarrheal pathogens in infants and young children Global Enteric Multicenter Study (GEMS) Open Access

Viruses are a leading cause of pediatric diarrheal illness, resulting in over 200,000 childhood deaths annually worldwide. Rotavirus is the most common viral cause of moderate-to-severe diarrhea in low to middle-income countries, but adenovirus 40/41, norovirus, sapovirus, and astrovirus are increasingly recognized as important contributors to the global viral gastroenteritis burden. Comparisons of clinical severity between these five viruses among infants and young children are currently limited.

The objective of this analysis was to describe the clinical severity of rotavirus, adenovirus 40/41, norovirus, sapovirus, and astrovirus among children enrolled in the Global Enteric Multicenter Study (GEMS). Stool samples from children younger than 5 years of age with moderate-to-severe diarrhea at four sites in Africa and three in Asia were tested by enzyme immunoassays (rotavirus, adenovirus) and multiplex reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (norovirus, sapovirus, astrovirus). A modified Vesikari score (MVS) to assess clinical severity was calculated based on symptoms and clinical characteristics.

Among 3,305 viral diarrhea cases, rotavirus had the highest median MVS (9 [interquartile range [IQR: 7,11]) followed by adenovirus 40/41 (8 [IQR]: 6,10]); sapovirus and astrovirus had a similar MVS distribution to norovirus (7 [IQR: 6, 9]). The proportion of patients experiencing > 3 episodes of vomiting was high for those with rotavirus (66.3%) and adenovirus 40/41 (55.7%); astrovirus (40.8%), sapovirus (40.0%), and norovirus (35.9%) patients also experienced substantial episodes of vomiting. A high proportion of cases with adenovirus 40/41 (54.0%) and rotavirus (46.3%) experienced ≥ 7 episodes of diarrhea within 24 hours. While hospitalization or intravenous fluids were required most frequently for patients with rotavirus (42.1%), the proportion was also high in those with adenovirus 40/41 (30.6%).

These findings demonstrate the clinical severity of viral diarrheal pathogens besides rotavirus, in particular adenovirus 40/41, warranting the continued development of vaccines and therapeutics to prevent morbidity and mortality due to viral enteric pathogens.

All Authors: No reported disclosures.