Rotavirus (rotovirus)
Rotaviruses are the group of viruses belonging to the family Reoviridae, the genus Rotavirus, clustered in the subgroups A-E, each of them divided into several subtypes. Only subtypes 1-4 of the subgroup A are dangerous for human-being. According to Wikipedia, approximately 18 million people become ill each year in the world, however not all cases are diagnosed.
It is a virus parasitizing mainly in the intestine and causing the inflammation of stomach and intestine - Gastroenteritis. Rotavirus is transmitted by the oral-faecal route, i. e. via contact with dirty hands, contaminated things, food, water. There is also a possibility of getting the virus from an infected person who is sneezing and coughing. The incubation period lasts for 1-3 days. Domestic pets or other animals cannot infect people, as rotavirus species spreading among them are not dangerous for human-beings. Large quantity of rotavirus (rotovirus) is excreted with faeces of the infected person up to 5 days from the beginning of illness, but no longer exuded during 7-10 days. The rotavirus is rather resistant to the external environment: it may remain active on the things and in the water for 10 days, whereas on the hands for 4 hours. Minimum quantity of rotavirus (roto virus) in the food, water, on dirty hands or things, that little children like to put into mouth, is enough for becoming infected by the rotavirus intestinal infection. Micro particles of faeces may also get into the air, and together with dust pass into a kid's nasopharynx.
Moreover, rotavirus (roto virus),
as well as flu virus, is more resistant in the cold season. Possibility of being infected by rotavirus increases from November to April as most of the time is spent in the closed space.Children from 9 months to 5 years old are affected by rotavirus infection more often as they get infected from one another in the collectives, medical institutions, nursery schools.
Rotavirus (rotovirus) disease
Usually the rotavirus disease has acute symptoms. The key symptoms are as follows: fever, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach-ache. Vomiting may be very intensive. Diarrhea may occur even 10 times per day. It is especially dangerous for little children due to progressive dehydratation in the organism. When a kid becomes ill, it is recommended to seek immediate medical attention.
Rotavirus treatment
The key rotavirus (rotovirus) treatment principle is to maintain the fluid balance in the organism.The diet of easily digested food (porridges boiled in the water without any additions are recommended) and considerable fluid consumption (up to 1.5 - 2 liters per day) form the basis for treatment. Non-gassy mineral water may be used to restore the balance of electrolytes. Fresh fruit juice or drinks should be avoided.
Rotavirus prevention:
- Medical preventive measures - rotavirus vaccine against rotavirus infection (rotovirus).
- Hand hygiene. After washing hands with soap, the majority of viruses of the above origin are killed.
- Cleanliness of rooms, things used in daily life, surfaces being touched. The most effective disinfectants are those containing chlorine. Solution of soap or soda is used for cleaning children's toys.
Indications of norovirus are similar to those of rotavirus (rotovirus), though recovery from norovirus disease is considerably easier. Physicians call norovirus the "Winter vomiting disease". It is established that most infections with norovirus are likely to originate from the consumption of infected food, and then norovirus can spread from person to person. Virus spreads very quickly, thus outbreaks of the disease often arise in the kindergartens and schools. No indications of the disease occur for more then a half of persons, infected with norovirus. Such individuals are dangerous for the surrounding people as they may transmit the disease.
