What causes viral gastroenteritis?
Many different viruses can cause gastroenteritis, including rotaviruses, noroviruses, adenovirus types 40 and 41, sapoviruses, and astroviruses. Viral gastroenteritis is not caused by bacteria (such as Salmonella species or Escherichia coli), parasites (such as Giardia lamblia), 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.
