What Is Rotavirus And What Symptoms Does It Cause?

Rotavirus is certainly a word familiar to most, but few know exactly what kind of virus it is. Various intestinal problems are common in children older than six months but less than five years old, and it is important for parents of young children to recognize the symptoms caused by the rotavirus.

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in infants and children. Almost every child has become infected with rotavirus at least once before their fifth birthday. It is therefore a very common viral infection that usually does not have serious consequences for a child’s health. Although an easily treatable pediatric disease, up to 2,000,000 children become seriously ill with rotavirus each year, and more than 450,000 children under the age of 5 die each year – most of them in developing countries.

What is rotavirus and how does it infect?

Rotavirus is  a double-stranded RNA virus belonging to the family Reoviridae and is the most common cause of diarrhea and vomiting. The virus is classified into six groups, of which group A, B, and C viruses can infect humans, and of these, type A is the one that causes the strongest symptoms in children.

Rotavirus is a highly contagious and persistent virus that survives for long periods of time outside the body. It catches the fecal-oral pathway from person to person. The virus can also be transmitted, for example, through toys, and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or drink or the respiratory tract.

Rotavirus travels to the small intestine, where it begins to multiply. Inflamed cells in the small intestine break down, causing the sugars from the diet not to break down and be absorbed normally, causing fluid to build up in the body and the stool to become watery. In addition, viral enterotoxin increases chloride secretion, causing diarrhea.

What are the symptoms of rotavirus?

The incubation period of the disease is about two days. Vomiting, diarrhea, and fever begin quickly, and watery diarrhea is associated with severe abdominal cramps. Especially in young children, vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration. Rotavirus symptoms typically last for five days. A child’s first rotavirus-induced diarrheal disease is usually the most severe in their disease, and the symptoms of subsequent infections are milder.

Diarrhea caused by rotavirus may be associated with the following symptoms:

• Watery diarrhea
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain and cramps
• Some children have breathing problems
• Dehydration
• Nervousness or irritability
• Thirst
• Eyes in the pit
• Slight urination
• Dry mucous membranes
• In extreme cases, convulsions caused by fever

Rotavirus is often mixed with norovirus, which is the same type of intestinal inflammation. Rotavirus can be detected in faeces by a variety of detection methods.

Rotavirus treatment

There is no specific drug for rotavirus stomach disease. The key is to drink plenty to relieve symptoms and keep your body hydrated. Very sweet drinks are not recommended, but dilute juice, tea and water can be drunk. Sometimes very severe or prolonged symptoms lead to dehydration, in which case the patient needs fluid therapy through a nasogastric tube or intravenously.

The vaccine is the most effective way to prevent rotavirus infection. Comprehensive rotavirus vaccinations have significantly reduced the incidence of infections in children less than 5 years of age. Taking care of hand hygiene is also a good way to prevent infection, just like with any intestinal infection.