Rotavirus infection (rotavirus enteritis) is a disease that is the most common cause of severe diarrhea, often fatal, especially in infants and young children. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), rotavirus is the world's most common cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhea in children under 5 years of age, resulting in about 25 million people seeking medical care each year, and about 2 million is hospitalized
A few decades ago, no one knew about this disease, and sick people were diagnosed with gastroenteritis. The discovery of rotavirus is associated with the name of Ruth Bishop, who in 1973 managed to detect viral particles in the epithelial cells of the duodenum of patients.
Almost every child in the world under the age of 5 is infected with rotavirus at least once. Rotavirus is the most common cause of diarrhea in children aged 6 months to 4–5 years worldwide . However, adults can also get sick. In them, the disease usually proceeds in a mild form with less pronounced symptoms. In addition, this disease can be epidemic in nature.
Rotavirus is very contagious, you can get sick after getting into the body less than 100 virus particles. Cases of re-infection after the disease are possible.
Humans are the source of rotaviruses. Infection occurs through the fecal-oral route, both directly and during contact with surfaces and objects that could be contaminated: toys, floors, furniture, clothes, etc., as well as during food. Rotavirus is stored in the patient's feces until symptoms appear and up to 10 days after they disappear, and on surfaces and objects for several weeks.
Although the fecal-oral route of transmission is the most common, rotavirus can also be contracted through any contact with body fluids of a sick person, for example, during sneezing or contact with doorknobs or toys that the sick person has touched.
The disease is registered throughout the year. However, its peculiarity as a viral gastroenteritis is the rise in incidence in the autumn period with further increase in the winter-spring period.
Symptoms of the disease usually appear 2 days after infection (although sometimes the incubation period can last up to 5 days). The most characteristic symptoms - vomiting and diarrhea - can last from 3 to 8 days. Also among the possible symptoms is a sharp increase in body temperature, nausea, pain and grumbling in the stomach. Additional symptoms (loss of appetite, dehydration) can be especially dangerous for infants and young children. Vomiting and diarrhea may make your child not want to eat or drink. This can lead to dehydration, which is life-threatening: in this case, the child may need urgent hospitalization.
Symptoms of dehydration :
The main methods of prevention of rotavirus infection are vaccination and compliance with the rules of personal hygiene (washing hands after visiting the toilet and public places, before eating), as well as the rules of handling food and water. However, compliance with the rules of personal hygiene, unfortunately, is not enough to control the spread of rotavirus infection.
If a rotavirus infection has already been detected, then people who care for patients should additionally treat them with an antiseptic after washing their hands.
Contaminated toys and surfaces must be washed with detergent, and treatment with a 70% solution of ethyl alcohol inactivates the rotavirus and prevents its further transmission.
The vaccine protects infants from rotavirus gastroenteritis and the development of severe forms of the disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends administering the first dose of rotavirus vaccine as soon as possible after 6 weeks of age. In Ukraine, vaccination against rotavirus infection is classified as recommended , that is, you can get vaccinated at your own expense. For vaccination against rotavirus infection, one of the two vaccines registered in Ukraine and in the world can be used:
Rotarix (the course consists of 2 doses: the first must be administered no earlier than the age of 6 weeks, the second - before the age of 24 weeks, the minimum interval between doses is 4 weeks).
Rotatec (the course consists of 3 doses: the first should be administered no earlier than the age of 6 weeks and no later than the age of 12 weeks. The interval between the doses is at least 4 weeks. It is desirable that the course of vaccination, which consists of three doses, ends before the child reaches the age 20-22 weeks. If necessary, the third (last) dose can be administered up to the age of 32 weeks).
Both vaccines are oral, that is, administered as drops in the mouth.
Vaccines against rotavirus infection are highly effective : 9 out of 10 vaccinated children will form protection against a severe course of the disease, and 7 out of 10 vaccinated children will be protected from the disease of any severity.
WHO emphasizes that the use of rotavirus vaccines should be part of a comprehensive strategy to control diarrheal diseases with increased prevention (promotion of early and exclusive breastfeeding, hand washing with soap, improved water supply and sanitation).