Abnormal gastric motor function in viral gastroenteritis.

Nausea and vomiting occur commonly with gastroenteritis caused by parvovirus-like agents. Infection results in histologic injury to the small bowel mucosa, but the gastric mucosa remains unaffected. We have studied gastric emptying of liquids serially in 10 volunteers before and after ingestion of the parvovirus-like agents, Norwalk and Hawaii viruses. The five subjects who developed illness all showed marked delays in gastric emptying, while the five well subjects had no alteration of emptying. Five addition volunteers who developed Norwalk virus gastroenteritis underwent serial studies of gastric secretion of hydrochloric acid, pepsin, and intrinsic factor. No change was detected in either basal or betazole-stimulated secretion of these three substances during the course of illness. The nausea and vomiting accompanying this type of viral gastroenteritis may result from abnormal gastric motor function.