What Information exists about the disease and health systems burdens of lesser studied enteric viral infections in north west Europe? A rapid systematic mapping review

Background: Availability of multiplex PCR methods means that less studied viruses are often linked to acute gastrointestinal infection. Among the virus genera increasingly linked to illness and health care usage are astroviruses, sapoviruses, enteric adenoviruses and parechoviruses.

Methods: A systematic mapping review was undertaken to evaluate availability of published evidence that might be used to describe the disease burden or health care system usage associated with infection status with the target viruses among north west European populations. Availability of information was tabulated with respect to which viruses were tested, specific symptoms, sequelae and indicators of health service usage.

Results: At least 49 studies were available that described outcomes related to each of the target viruses. The most commonly documented symptom was presence/absence of diarrhoea. Metrics such as hospitalisation rates were available in a minority of studies, and no data were published about disability-adjusted-life-years, quality-of-life or life expectancy in relation to infection status.

Conclusions: It is feasible to estimate typical rates of hospitalisation or length of stay with infection by astroviruses, sapoviruses, enteric adenoviruses or parechoviruses.