世界范围内,在小于 5 岁的儿童中每年会发生 30-50 亿急性胃肠炎病例,造成 150-250 万人死亡。[1]World Health Organization. Children's environmental health. http://www.who.int/ (last accessed 21 April 2017).http://www.who.int/ceh/en[2]Leung AK. Oral rehydration therapy and early refeeding in the management of childhood gastroenteritis. In: Carter LV, ed. Child nutrition research advances. New York, NY: Nova Science Publishers, Inc; 2007.在发达国家,年龄<5 岁的儿童平均每年会经历 2.2 次腹泻,在发展中国家这个数字明显更高。[3]Hirshhorn N, Greenough WB III. Progress in oral rehydration therapy. Sci Am. 1991;264:50-56.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2052935?tool=bestpractice.com病毒性胃肠炎主要通过粪-口途径传播;污染的手、餐具、食品和饮料都可能传播。胃肠炎与贫穷和较差的环境或个人卫生相关。家庭成员之间传播很常见,日间护理中心或医院也可能暴发。一些流行病学研究表明,轮状病毒感染可以通过呼吸道飞沫传播。[4]Leung AK, Kellner JD, Davies HD. Rotavirus gastroenteritis. Adv Ther. 2005;22:476-487.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16418157?tool=bestpractice.com在温带地区,轮状病毒性胃肠炎有明显的季节性,在寒冷的月份达到高峰。[5]Cook SM, Glass RI, LeBaron CW, et al. Global seasonality of rotavirus infections. Bull World Health Organ. 1990;68:171-177.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1694734?tool=bestpractice.com