Rotavirus disease is a viral infection of the gastrointestinal tract which causes vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rotavirus is one the most common causes of gastroenteritis in the world and a leading cause of hospitalization in children less than 3 years of age in the United States.
Considerations
Rotavirus is highly contagious. It is present in large quantities in the stool and can survive on unclean surfaces for hours, even days. It is also found on toys and other surfaces in areas where there are many children, like daycare centers. The incubation period for the virus is between 24 and 72 hours.
Effects
The illness usually lasts for about a week. It usually starts with the sudden onset of fever, and then followed by watery, foul-smelling diarrhea. Most patients also suffer from nausea and vomiting. The combination of vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration.
Features
There is no direct treatment against the virus, although there is a test to detect it in the stool. Health care providers mostly deal with the symptoms that the diarrhea causes. These include severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, like low blood sodium and decreased blood sugar, since children with the infection usually will be too sick to eat or drink fluid. Severe dehydration can also cause kidney damage.
Prevention/Solution
There are two vaccines available against this virus, RotaTeq and Rotarix. They are both live-virus, oral vaccines. An earlier version of a rotavirus vaccine was removed from the market because it appeared to cause an increase in a form of intestinal obstruction called intussusception. The two current forms of the vaccine are administered in a three-dose series for infants less than eight months old.
Misconceptions
Most patients with rotavirus gastroenteritis do not need IV fluids. Small, frequent sips of clear liquids, like water or electrolyte containing solutions, are usually enough to maintain a child hydrated enough until the symptoms subside.
References
- Red Book Atlas of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Carol J. Baker MD, 2007
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Managing Acute Gastroenteritis Among Children
