Which virus is most commonly associated with gastroenteritis in children under 5 years old?

Rotavirus is the virus most commonly associated with gastroenteritis in children under 5 years old. This is primarily due to its high transmissibility and the severity of illness it can cause in young children, who are more vulnerable to dehydration and other complications from diarrhea and vomiting.

Rotavirus has been identified as a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis, particularly in infants and toddlers. It spreads easily through the fecal-oral route and can survive on surfaces for a long time, contributing to outbreaks in daycare settings. The introduction of the rotavirus vaccine has significantly reduced the incidence of severe gastroenteritis caused by this virus in vaccinated populations, highlighting its importance and prevalence prior to vaccination programs.

Other viruses like norovirus and adenovirus do also cause gastroenteritis, but they are not as prevalent as rotavirus in the under-5 age group. Norovirus is more commonly associated with gastroenteritis outbreaks in older children and adults. Adenovirus can cause a variety of illnesses, including gastroenteritis, but it is less frequently the primary cause in young children compared to rotavirus. Enterovirus is primarily associated with other illnesses, such as respiratory infections and hand, foot, and mouth disease, rather than gastroenteritis.

The prominence of rotavirus