Rotavirus Rotaviruses are classified with the Reoviridae family.
Rotaviruses cause acute gastroenteritis.
Infantile diarrhea, winter diarrhea, acute nonbacterial infectious gastroenteritis, and acute viral gastroenteritis are names applied to the infection caused by the most common and widespread group A rotavirus. The infective dose is presumed to be 10-100 infectious viral particles. Asymptomatic rotavirus excretion has been well documented and may play a role in perpetuating endemic disease. Specific diagnosis of the disease is made by identification of the virus in the patient's stool. Rotaviruses are transmitted by the fecal-oral route.