An acute infectious disease caused by an RNA-containing virus of the genus Rotavirus of the Reoviridae family is widespread in both developing and developed countries. In total, there are 9 types of this virus, in humans there are 1-4 types and 8-9. Mostly children are sick, most often up to 3 years. However, roto viral infection occurs in adults, and older and weakened people in families where children are sick are especially susceptible to infection. The peak incidence occurs in the winter months.
A viral infection is transmitted to a person only from a person; serotypes of animal viruses are not dangerous for humans. The causative agent from a sick person or carrier is excreted with feces, the virus is transmitted by the fecal-oral route. Once in the body by alimentary route, the pathogen multiplies in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Rota virus is often combined with bacterial agents such as salmonella, shigella, Escherichia and other viruses, in particular, corona and adenoviruses.
Symptoms of the disease
The disease develops 1-2 days after infection, sometimes the incubation period lasts up to a week. The disease begins acutely. The temperature rises to 38-39 degrees, but sometimes the temperature is higher. In mild forms of the disease, in both children and adults, high fever is not observed. The first manifestations of the disease are epigastric pain, vomiting and nausea, diarrhea. Also characteristic are: enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes, rhinitis, redness of the pharynx, but symptoms of damage to the digestive system come to the fore, which is why the disease is often called intestinal flu. On the first day of the disease, most patients experience vomiting, watery, profuse stools with an unpleasant pungent odor up to 10 or more times a day, rumbling in the abdomen. 75% of sick children develop dehydration, but in the vast majority of cases, dehydration is not pronounced. With the development of severe dehydration, hemodynamic disorders are possible.
Roto viral infection can occur with severe signs of intoxication and high fever, if combined with a bacterial infection. In this situation, patients, as a rule, note an admixture of blood and mucus in the feces, which is more typical for shigellosis, salmonellosis, and escherichiosis. In the acute period, red blood cells and leukocytes are found in the urine of patients, leukocytosis in the blood, followed by leukopenia, an increase in ESR is not characteristic. Symptoms of bowel damage last from 2 to 6 days. Typically, a roto viral infection does not cause complications, but patients require a special approach if bacterial agents are added.
When making a diagnosis, the epidemiological situation and the clinical picture of the disease are taken into account. The diagnosis of roto viral infection is confirmed by the identification of the pathogen in the feces of the patient. Serological reactions, in particular, CSCs, are of less importance. For treatment, sorbents and saline solutions (rehydron) are used to help prevent dehydration. The disease usually ends in recovery.
Preventative measures
Often the cause of outbreaks of acute diarrhea in children's groups is a roto viral infection. Disease prevention is especially important in an unfavorable epidemiological environment. Prevention measures come down to personal hygiene. A sick child should be isolated until complete recovery, providing it with separate dishes. Water needs to be consumed only boiled, since a virus stable in the environment of a company dies when boiled. Perhaps in the near future the prevention of this disease will be carried out through vaccination.