Rotaviruses - a group of viral infections that most often provoke intestinal flu in children aged 6 months to 2 years. This virus can affect not only a child, but also adults, but they have a mild illness with erased symptoms. This viral infection is quite contagious.
Intestinal flu is transmitted through infected foods, through the household, and through contact with a sick person. The incidence of rotavirus infections is seasonal, and most often this occurs in the winter.
What is a disease?
Rotavirus infection is an infectious bowel disease provoked by certain viruses and manifests itself in the form of diarrhea, general dehydration of the body, vomiting, and other characteristic signs. The rotavirus epidemic occurs mainly in the cold season, when there is the greatest incidence of colds, including influenza.
As a result of the course of this infection in patients, there are not only signs of influenza, but also symptoms of intestinal damage. Mostly young children suffer from this disease, however, this problem can also occur at an older age. This is explained by the fact that after the course of rotavirus, the child does not form stable immunity, which prevents subsequent infection.
How does infection happen?
It is important to understand exactly how rotavirus is transmitted so that preventative measures can be taken to avoid infection. Among the main causes of the spread of this infection can be called weak immunity, as well as the special anatomical structure of the intestinal mucosa. It is worth noting that the risk of infection is high not only in young children, but also in older people, due to a weakened immune system and the inability of the body to fight viruses normally.
Many are interested in how rotavirus is transmitted in order to understand exactly how infection can occur. It is worth noting that the source of the disease can be not only a sick person who clearly has signs of infection, but also an asymptomatic carrier. He has no signs of damage, but viral particles are released.
The main form of transmission is fecal-oral. After the virus enters the body, it begins to multiply actively in the intestines. Subsequently, pathological cells are separated from the mucosa and excreted together with feces. However, they still retain their viability for a long time.
If subsequently a healthy person will come into contact with objects contaminated with feces of the patient, then the virus can get on the skin, and subsequently the human intestines. As a result, a pronounced clinical picture of rotavirus develops.
Scientists have not been able to accurately determine whether the virus can be transmitted by airborne droplets. Many children show signs of rotavirus along with symptoms of respiratory damage. However, neither the flu nor the common cold develops. This may indicate that initially the infection penetrated the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, and only after this there was a lesion of the intestinal cells.
The main symptoms
Symptoms of rotavirus are caused by damage to the intestinal mucosa and malabsorption of beneficial and nutrients, as well as a weakening of the immune system and the entire body. Infection may manifest as:
- nausea and vomiting
- diarrhea
- bloating;
- stomach ache;
- temperature increase;
- headache;
- weaknesses.
With rotavirus, the incubation period lasts for 1-7 days, although sometimes it is only a few hours. Throughout all this time, the virus has already penetrated the intestines, infected the mucous membrane and began to multiply actively. However, digestive disorders did not occur, and there were no systemic manifestations of the disease, since the particles of the virus had not yet managed to penetrate the blood, and the immune system did not begin to fight the infection.
It is worth noting that during the incubation period of rotavirus, a person may experience weakness, fever, high fatigue, sore throat and cough. This may be due to damage to the respiratory system. After the incubation period, an acute course of the disease occurs, accompanied by an increase in characteristic signs. From the moment the first symptoms of rotavirus appear, a few hours pass before the development of the characteristic clinical picture.
One of the characteristic signs of the disease is nausea and vomiting. Basically, it is single, but can be repeated 2-3 times. Vomit contains particles of undigested food, and there may also be impurities of bile. Many are interested in how to distinguish rotavirus from poisoning. It is worth noting that with poisoning, vomiting is repeated, profuse and may even be watery. With the course of rotavirus infection, vomiting ceases by the end of the first day of the course of infection and only in some cases can be observed for 2-3 days.
Diarrhea occurs almost immediately with vomiting or literally an hour after it. The mechanism for the development of this symptom is largely associated with intestinal damage. As a result of the destruction of the mucosa, the absorption of nutrients is disrupted. The urge to defecate is quite frequent and occur 2-3 times a day with a mild infection and 20-50 times with a severe course. They are so strong that the patient is simply not able to restrain them. Stool with rotavirus infection is different in that it:
- frothy;
- liquid;
- offensive;
- yellowish or greenish.
Sometimes feces may contain admixtures of viscous mucus, but this is not always a sign of rotavirus. The duration of diarrhea varies depending on the characteristics of the disease and is approximately 1-6 days.
Often the patient has abdominal pain, but this is not an obligatory symptom of infection. The patient may complain of drawing, aching, or cramping painful sensations, which can be greatly enhanced with vomiting or diarrhea. The cause of this may be intestinal muscle cramps, developing against a background of increased activity. Attacks in this case occur every 3-5 minutes and are accompanied by urges to defecate.
A characteristic manifestation of the disease is fever that occurs immediately after the end of the incubation period. In addition, there may be signs of general intoxication of the body, manifested in the form of:
- fatigue;
- lethargy;
- headaches;
- aching muscles and joints;
- shortness of breath.
It is worth noting that the severity of these signs largely depends on the severity of the disease, as well as the presence or absence of concomitant pathologies. It is very important to know exactly how to distinguish rotavirus from poisoning so that appropriate treatment can be prescribed. With the course of rotavirus infection, there are signs of flu and intestinal disorders.
Diagnostics
The diagnosis and treatment of rotavirus is carried out by an infectious disease doctor. If the first signs of the disease occur, you should contact your family doctor or call an ambulance. During the examination, consultation with an otolaryngologist and a gastroenterologist may be required. The diagnostic process includes:
- interrogation of the patient;
- clinical trial;
- laboratory diagnostics.
During the survey, the doctor clarifies the data on the onset and development of the disease, which is required to make the correct diagnosis. After this, a clinical study of the patient is necessary to assess his condition. Clinical examination includes:
- inspection;
- palpation;
- tapping;
- listening.
Upon examination, the doctor may notice dry skin, a decrease in their shine. The cause of this may be dehydration caused by vomiting and diarrhea. Palpation is an assessment of the skin, as well as other organs.
In addition, you need to take tests for rotavirus, which will accurately diagnose, as well as timely determine the presence of complications that may develop against the background of the infection. All studies are best performed before treatment, as the use of antiviral drugs or antibiotics can distort the data and make it difficult to identify viruses or bacteria, thereby reducing the effectiveness of treatment. To conduct a rotavirus test, you can use:
- blood;
- urine
- feces;
- saliva and other biological material.
A general blood test is not informative enough, since only some data can indicate the presence of infection in the body. The most sensitive method for diagnosing rotavirus infection is the polymerase chain reaction method. During the study, you can identify the genetic material of the virus.
You can confirm the presence of rotavirus in the body using the rapid test. It allows you to identify particles of bacteria in the feces. You can buy it at the pharmacy, and the kit includes all the devices required for the study.
Treatment features
There are no specific drugs for the treatment of rotavirus. Therapeutic measures are aimed at combating the symptoms of the disease. If the patient has reduced appetite, then you can’t force him to eat, you can only give him a drink of broth or jelly. Do not consume dairy products, as they are a very good medium for the reproduction of bacteria.
To prevent dehydration, it is recommended to drink pure water or saline solutions. The liquid should be taken in small portions every 30 minutes. If the patient's condition is very serious, then intravenous fluid administration may be required.
Sorbents must be used to remove toxins, and antidiarrheal agents to prevent the attachment of a bacterial infection. In addition, enzyme preparations may be required.
It is only necessary to lower the temperature if you feel unwell and intolerant, since rotaviruses die in this case. As soon as he feels normal and the patient has an appetite, he is prescribed drugs to restore intestinal microflora.
Drug treatment
Rotavirus treatment should be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor. In especially severe cases, the patient is hospitalized in the infectious ward. Despite the spread of this disease, there is no specific medicine for the destruction of the virus, which is why therapeutic measures are aimed at eliminating the existing symptoms, restoring the water-salt balance and restoring the functioning of the intestines and stomach. Is a prescribing doctor prescribing a medicine for rotavirus? and therapy implies the use of drugs such as:
- antiviral;
- antiemetic;
- enterosorbents;
- antipyretic;
- antimicrobial.
To prevent dehydration, Regidron may be prescribed. Antiviral agents “Tsitovir-3” or “Viferon” help reduce the activity of viruses. To remove toxins, enterosorbents are prescribed, in particular, such as Smecta or Enterosgel.
Bifidumbacteria help restore the normal intestinal microflora, and also protect the mucosa from damage, in particular, such as Linex, Normobakt. To prevent the occurrence of allergic reactions, antihistamines are prescribed, for example, such as “Zodak”, “Claritin”, “Tavegil”.
The medicine for rotavirus, the course of therapy and the dosage of the drugs are prescribed by the doctor in accordance with the patient's age and other features. In a hospital setting, drugs can be administered intramuscularly or intravenously. It is important to note that you must follow a special diet and follow the doctor’s recommendations.
Treatment with folk remedies
Together with medications and a diet, rotavirus can be treated with folk remedies that can help restore fluid volume, increase the body's resistance, and speed up the elimination of harmful and dangerous substances. A good result can be obtained by consuming dried blueberries, from which you can make compote.
Herbal decoctions of wormwood, chamomile, oak bark also help, which will help normalize the well-being of the patient. However, it is worth remembering that before you carry out treatment using these tools, you need to consult a doctor. A good alternative to the use of chamomile flowers is the drug "Gastrolit", which contains this plant. Its great advantage is that the medicine can be used for children from 6 months of age.
Dieting
With rotavirus in adults, special attention is paid to diet, since the development of the pathological process disrupts the activity of digestive enzymes, in particular lactase. In the acute period of the course of the disease, it is recommended to exclude fatty dairy products and limit the intake of foods rich in carbohydrates. In addition, you should not consume fatty meat products, rich broths, fried foods.
Food needs to be consumed in small portions, and the list of allowed products includes vegetable purees and soups, liquid porridge, baked apples. It is very important to observe the correct drinking regimen. With severe diarrhea and vomiting, you need to constantly replenish the volume of lost fluid. You need to drink very slowly, in small sips, with interruptions of several minutes. With a sharp deterioration in the condition with rotavirus, only the attending doctor can determine what to do, since the disease can provoke various complications.
Possible complications
Rotavirus in adults and children develops quite rapidly, and its acute phase lasts for 5 days. Initially, it is difficult to recognize the course of the infection, as temperature, vomiting and diarrhea can be signs of many other diseases. It is very important to conduct treatment in a timely manner, as this threatens with serious complications. Among the most dangerous conditions can be distinguished such as:
- dehydration;
- dysbiosis;
- liver failure;
- decreased immunity.
Significant dehydration can lead to disruption of the functioning of vital organs, as well as provoke the death of the patient. Incorrect and untimely treatment can lead to the fact that the intestines will colonize the pathogenic microflora, and the body weakened by the infection and drugs does not have enough resources to fight the infection.
With the course of the disease, the restoration ability of the immune system is significantly reduced. A weakened body cannot normally resist viruses, which is why there is a significant risk of reinfection. With rotavirus in children, the risk of death is high enough, however, treatment is quite problematic.
Prophylaxis
Many are interested in how not to get infected with rotavirus, since the treatment of the disease is quite problematic, and it can provoke the occurrence of various complications. There is an opinion that the infection is transmitted through infected objects, then it is enough to follow the rules of personal hygiene to eliminate the problem.
For the prevention of rotavirus, you need to use disinfectants and hand soap. Infection effectively affects only solutions of alcohol, chlorine and iodine. Many believe that it is enough to get sick only once to gain immunity for life. This is not entirely correct, as there are several different types of rotaviruses.
As prevention of rotavirus, vaccination against infection is used. This is a live Rotatek vaccine for oral administration. It protects against the most common types of viruses. Immunity after vaccination lasts for 5 years.
Features of the course of infection in children
Rotavirus in children is quite acute with severe symptoms. From the very first day of infection, the temperature rises, nausea, vomiting and loose stools appear. As the inflammatory process develops, feces acquire a characteristic yellowish-gray hue, and also has a clay-like consistency.
In addition, catarrhal symptoms are observed, in particular, such as perspiration and inflammation in the throat, runny nose, and cough is also possible. The child becomes moody and refuses to consume food.
It is important not only to understand how to treat the disease, but also how not to get infected with rotavirus, since it can provoke many complications, up to the death of the child. If the first signs occur, immediately call an ambulance.
During the treatment period, a special balanced diet and a certain diet are of great importance. All medications should be prescribed by the attending doctor, taking into account the age of the child. In especially severe cases, hospitalization in the infectious ward is required.
It is very important to carry out prevention, which implies hygiene. , , .