Rotavirus infection is a complex infectious disease that is caused by rotaviruses. It is worth noting that it is often combined with respiratory signs or symptoms of an intestinal infection. Often, children suffer from such diseases.
When the first signs of the disease appear, you should immediately consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Disease feature
Before determining how you can get a rotavirus infection, you need to determine exactly what this virus is. It got its name from the Latin word rota, which means a wheel. This group includes 8 varieties of rotaviruses.
The virus is enclosed in a triple strong protein shell that protects it from digestive enzymes in the intestines and stomach. Propagation of the virus occurs on the mucosa of the intestinal epithelium. The incubation period generally lasts 1-5 days.
After penetrating the mucous membrane, the virus gradually invades the cells and tries to make them a source for the development of new rotaviruses. In some cases, when the introduction does not occur, the disease is completely asymptomatic. But often it manifests itself in an acute form.
Rotavirus in its symptoms resembles toxic poisoning, which is characterized by severe vomiting and diarrhea. In addition to disruption of the digestive process, a runny nose appears and redness of the larynx is observed. After this, the stage of recovery begins, which lasts 3-5 days. In adults, rotavirus infection appears much less frequently than in children. This is due to the fact that gastric juice is more aggressive. He tries to eliminate the virus immediately after it enters the body.
Rotaviruses are very stable in drinking water, where they remain viable for several months. On the surface of fruits and vegetables can live up to a month. They cannot be eliminated by repeated freezing. Even the use of disinfectant solutions does not always give the desired result. However, the virus dies with simple boiling.
Causes of occurrence
Answering the question of how to get a rotavirus infection, it must be said that the disease provokes a rotavirus belonging to the reovirus family and contains RNA enclosed between a double rough layer. These viruses are quite resistant to external factors. Many are interested in where you can get a rotavirus infection. This can happen anywhere, namely:
- in public toilets;
- in places of public catering;
- when visiting a reservoir or pool.
The virus is located in different places, it lives on various objects for a long time. The source of infection can be poorly washed vegetables or fruits, as well as meat that has passed an insufficient level of heat treatment.
Main symptoms
Having determined how you can get a rotavirus infection, you need to know exactly what symptoms are characteristic of this disease, so that it can be detected in a timely manner and consult a doctor. The incubation period generally lasts 5 days. The acute stage of the disease lasts 3-7 days, and then the recovery period begins. It lasts 5 days.
Rotavirus infection generally begins quite acutely. In this case, the temperature begins to rise significantly. Therefore, after the virus enters the body, the child’s state changes, and he begins to suffer almost immediately from all the symptoms. High fever can cause fever.
Due to its symptomatic nature, rotavirus is often called intestinal flu. The disease is also manifested by vomiting, which can be acute even with proper and balanced nutrition. Sometimes there can be a strong stomach attack, which is manifested by cramping pain, diarrhea and rumbling in the stomach.
Another sign is a change in the nature of the chair. On the first day it is yellow and liquid, on the following days its color changes to gray-yellow. In addition, signs of rhinitis may appear. Sore throat and cough gradually appear. In this case, problems of the oral cavity are possible.
Diagnostics
Many are interested in how you can get a rotavirus infection. This occurs when in contact with an infected person, as well as when using things that have a virus. It is very important to diagnose the disease at the initial stage, as well as conduct complex treatment.
Like any other infectious disease, rotavirus can be detected during laboratory tests. Often, the patient uses vomit and feces, as well as blood. Rotavirus is diagnosed by passing a general blood test. In this case, it will be observed:
- an increase in white blood cells at the onset of the disease;
- decrease in their norm during the height of;
- erythrocyte sedimentation rate does not change.
Protein is found in the urine, as well as red blood cells and white blood cells. When conducting biochemical analysis, an increase in serum nitrogen is observed.
Analysis of feces helps to determine digestive disorders, as the feces during the course of the disease contain a lot of undigested fiber, starch and fat. It acquires a light color, and urine becomes dark. Also, the virus can be detected during the rapid test. This method is good in that it does not require a high concentration of rotavirus. It takes no more than 15 minutes, which is very important for this disease.
Treatment features
It is important not only to know exactly how children are infected with rotavirus infection, but also how treatment is carried out. It is worth noting that there are no drugs that can quickly and effectively destroy the virus. However, you can try to reduce the existing symptoms, which causes significant discomfort to the child.
To prevent very severe dehydration, rehydration therapy is necessary. It involves the consumption of a sufficiently large amount of liquid. You can also take saline. It is prepared by mixing 1 tsp. salt and 1 liter of pure water. The liquid should be drunk in small sips, approximately 50 ml every 30 minutes. In some cases, it is administered intravenously, especially with a strong manifestation of symptoms with increasing intoxication.
There may be toxins in the intestines that need to be removed with sorbents. In the treatment of rotavirus infection, Smecta, activated carbon, Enterosgel are used. Restore the normal functioning of the intestine is possible only by taking a large number of sorbents.
After rotavirus, digestive organs need to be restored, for which enzyme preparations are used. The temperature should be reduced only if it rises greatly and is difficult to tolerate. Children are prescribed syrups and candles for this. Apply only those drugs that the doctor prescribed, strictly observing the dosage.
Symptoms and treatment of adults
How do adults get rotavirus infection? How exactly does the disease occur in them? The penetration of the virus into the body occurs in almost the same way as in children. The main transmission routes of rotavirus are through dirty hands or poorly washed foods. It is also important to understand whether rotavirus infection can be re-infected. This is quite possible with the consumption of infected food, in particular dairy products. This is due to the specifics of its production.
Rotaviruses feel quite normal in the refrigerator and can live there for several days. Even chlorination of water does not destroy them. Many are interested in how you can get a rotavirus infection from a person. It spreads in the same way as the flu virus, by dropping, for example, by coughing or sneezing.
In adults, the infectious disease is much milder than in children. It is characterized by such signs as:
- loose stools;
- loss of appetite;
- temperature rise.
Often in adults, the symptoms proceed almost imperceptibly. Therefore, many do not even think about how this disease is treated. However, when the first signs appear, it is necessary to conduct therapy, since this infection is transmitted even with ordinary household contact.
Answering the question, after how many days you can get a rotavirus infection, if you have a sick person in the house, it must be said that this usually happens within 3-5 days. It is possible to prevent infection from an infected person only in the case of active immunity. Special treatment in adults is not required. Therapy is symptomatic.
Rotavirus during pregnancy
Women expecting a baby are also not immune to infection and can catch the virus at any time. It is very important to understand exactly how much rotavirus infection can be caused by contact with a sick person. This will allow you to timely pay attention to the presence of the virus in the body, as well as conduct treatment to prevent the development of complications. A sick person remains contagious for 3-5 days after the disappearance of symptoms, therefore, special care must be taken during pregnancy.
Symptoms and treatment in pregnant women are exactly the same as in all other patients. Infection does not harm the fetus, but dehydration is a great danger. It can lead to insufficient oxygen supply to the fetus. This can be very deplorable, since oxygen is very important for a child. In the worst case scenario, this can lead to miscarriage or premature birth. Nevertheless, you should not wind yourself up and worry too much. It is important to ensure the correct treatment.
To avoid severe dehydration, you need to constantly replenish the water-salt balance. To do this, it is important to constantly consume plain or mineral water, fruit compote or dried fruit drinks. It is also worth observing bed rest.
Absorbent agents are well suited to accelerate the elimination of infection from the body. To do this, you can use activated carbon, Smecta or Polysorb. They do an excellent job with the task.
During pregnancy, it is also important to strictly follow a diet. From the diet you need to exclude products that irritate the intestines. These include fried, sweets, smoked, salted, dairy products.
Power Features
Answering the question of how a child or adult can get a rotavirus infection again after recovery, it must be said that food, in particular milk and dairy products, are at great risk. Therefore, it is important to follow a certain diet. You can consume mashed vegetables, porridge on the water, baked vegetables, yeast-free bread.
A few days after a full recovery, you can eat a sweet apple. Whole milk and milk porridges, high-fat animal proteins, sour berries and fruits are prohibited.
One of the effects of rotavirus is lactose deficiency. It is manifested by insufficient absorption of milk sugar. As a result of this, bloating, loose stools, flatulence are observed. This can last 2-3 weeks.
Possible complications
It is absolutely necessary not only to understand how children and adults become infected with rotavirus infection, but also what complications of the disease can be. With the right treatment, it proceeds without complications. If the child is often not drunk, then dehydration of the body is quite possible, up to the onset of a fatal outcome.
If timely measures are not taken, then the attachment of a bacterial intestinal infection is possible. Then the disease will be more difficult. It is important to monitor the body temperature of the child, since its prolonged increase of more than 39 degrees can lead to cell death. Fatal outcome is observed in approximately 2-3% of cases and mainly in children with poor health.
How much can be re-infection
Some ask if rotavirus infection can be re-infected. After how long this can happen, because a constant and strong immunity is not maintained. Therefore, the question of whether it is possible to get infected with rotavirus infection again, the answer is unequivocal - to get sick a second time is quite possible.
Immunity persists for a short time, so you can get sick repeatedly. Rotavirus infection can be infected again only after a few weeks.
Prophylaxis
Is it possible to get rotavirus infection again? We have already found out that this is quite possible. That is why it is necessary to carry out comprehensive prevention. There are vaccines that help rule out the development of the virus in the body. Other preventive measures include methods such as:
- compliance with personal hygiene;
- proper product handling;
- selection of dairy products.
It is very important to observe the rules of personal hygiene. To do this, it is important to wash your hands before eating, after visiting the toilet and public places. Food should be properly processed to remove the infection. To destroy the virus, it is important to wash vegetables and fruits with hot water, as it dies when exposed to high temperatures.
Particular attention should be paid to dairy products, since it is in it that most bacteria develop. Therefore, when buying it, you need to pay attention to the expiration date and storage conditions.
Knowing how rotavirus is transmitted, we can eliminate the likelihood of it entering the body. All preventive measures taken help to eliminate the appearance of other infections in the body. If the first signs of the disease occur, you should immediately consult a doctor.