In medicine, the term "rotavirus infection" refers to an acute disease that occurs in the form of gastroenteritis. The development of pathology is accompanied by damage to the gastrointestinal tract. Outbreaks of rotavirus infection are most often recorded in the autumn-winter period, but the disease can also occur in isolated cases. Most often, the pathology is diagnosed in babies under 2 years old, but older children and adults are also susceptible to it.
Development mechanism
Rotavirus infection is a disease characterized by an acute course and a high degree of contagiousness. The causative agent belongs to the reoviride family, in which there are only 6 genera. Rotaviruses are pathogenic microorganisms that contribute to the development of the disease not only in humans, but also in animals and birds.
Pathogen resistant toaggressive environmental factors. It is able to withstand very low temperatures and does not die under the influence of most chemicals and ultrasound. The most effective means of combating rotaviruses are: ethanol (95%), acids and alkaline solutions. In addition, pathogens are killed by exposure to high temperatures.
Infection enters the body through the oral cavity. In the first 24 hours, pathogens enter the gastrointestinal tract. Further development of events depends on the indicator of its acidity. If rotaviruses do not die, they penetrate the epithelial cells of the villi of the small intestine. Due to this, they are separated from each other. The logical result is a violation of the digestive process, in addition, dehydration occurs in the body. In this regard, the disease has another name - stomach flu.
Transmission routes
Rotavirus infection is most often contracted during household contact. In addition, the disease is also transmitted by airborne droplets. Reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms occurs on the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. After that, they enter the external environment with feces, that is, the disease is a disease of dirty hands.
The most common ways rotavirus is transmitted are:
- food;
- unboiled water;
- household items;
- swimming in open water;
- cough;
- sneeze;
- talk;
- kisses.
In addition, there is a high risk of infection in children's hospitals. In such institutions, the disease spreads if the medical staff is not responsible enough to comply with sanitary rules.
In order to protect themselves, everyone should know how many days a person is contagious with a rotavirus infection. The most dangerous are contacts with people in the first 7 days of the development of the disease. This is due to the fact that at this time the maximum volume of viral particles is released into the environment. After a week, the degree of contagiousness of a person begins to decrease. In isolated cases, the risk of infection from a patient persists for up to 1 month.
Symptoms
The incubation period is about 5 days. After this, the disease passes into an acute period, accompanied by pronounced symptoms. The duration of this stage is usually from 3 to 7 days. Then comes the recovery period of the body (about 5 days).
Children have a hard time with the disease. It starts suddenly without any previous symptoms. At the same time, the following symptoms are observed in children:
- Increased body temperature. It persists for 2-4 days at the level of 38-39 degrees. It often happens that with a rotavirus infection, the temperature does not rise, but the child feels chills.
- Vomiting. It is one of the first symptoms of the disease. Vomiting persists for up to 2 days, its episodes occur repeatedly.
- Diarrhea. In most cases, it appears at the same timevomiting. The stool is profuse, watery, yellow in color. Sometimes a small amount of mucus can be found in the feces, but other pathological inclusions should be absent. The number of acts of defecation can reach 20 per day. Diarrhea bothers up to 7 days.
- Pain. Occur immediately after the transition of the disease to the acute phase. Each person has a different nature of pain. It can have a different degree of intensity and localization. Pain is almost always accompanied by bloating and flatulence.
- Severe weakness, lethargy, state of apathy.
- Disturbance of appetite up to its complete loss.
- Rhinitis.
- Cough.
- Sore throat.
With proper treatment, rotavirus infection in children recedes after 5-7 days, but episodes of diarrhea may occur periodically.
The severity of symptoms depends on the severity of the pathology. The disease can be mild, moderate or severe. The intensity of the manifestation of the clinical picture directly depends on the degree of dehydration of the body. In some cases, the disease is asymptomatic. Similar situations occur, as a rule, in newborns and in babies born prematurely.
Adults are also not protected from rotavirus infection. But they get sick less often and endure pathology much easier than children. In most cases, the course of the disease is not accompanied by the appearance of any symptoms, due to more developed immune and digestive systems.
Even with the weakening of the defensesthe body and the presence of other pathologies of adults are not worried about nausea and vomiting. Patients complain of weakness, loss of appetite, fever, rare episodes of diarrhea. Despite the absence of pronounced signs, the patient is contagious.
If a woman becomes infected during pregnancy, further developments depend on the number of pathogens and the state of the defenses. A mild form of the disease does not require hospitalization. With a more complex course, the patient is sent to the hospital. This is due to the fact that the disease can negatively affect the he alth of the child, and in the early stages lead to miscarriage.
Diagnosis
If you experience unpleasant symptoms, you should contact an infectious disease specialist as soon as possible. In the process of admission, he must be provided with information regarding all available alarming signs and how long ago they appeared. The doctor will assess the patient's condition and issue a referral for examination.
To make an accurate diagnosis, the specialist prescribes:
- Complete blood count. At the beginning of the development of the disease, the level of leukocytes rises. In the acute period, on the contrary, it decreases significantly. At the same time, the ESR indicator in most cases remains unchanged.
- Common urinalysis. In the presence of pathology, urine has a dark tint, sometimes protein, erythrocytes and leukocytes are found in it.
- Coprogram. The study allows you to identify violations of the digestive process. Feces with rotavirus infection are lightshade.
- Bakseev. The analysis is necessary to rule out other intestinal diseases.
A blood test to detect antibodies to the pathogen in it is not diagnostically significant. This is due to the fact that such substances begin to be produced by the immune system only after a long time.
Treatment
Infection, getting into the body, goes through a full cycle of reproduction. This affects not only the gastrointestinal tract, but also other systems. At any stage of the development of the disease, it is impossible to influence the pathogen. Currently, there are no effective antiviral drugs for rotavirus infection. The task of the doctor is to eliminate the negative consequences of the disease. Thus, the treatment of rotavirus infection is symptomatic.
When the diagnosis is confirmed, the treatment regimen is as follows:
- Replenishment of fluid loss. Frequent episodes of vomiting and diarrhea lead to dehydration, which must be addressed as soon as possible. If the disease is mild, the doctor prescribes ready-made solutions sold in pharmacies, for example, Regidron or Hydrovit. Similar products can be prepared at home. To do this, add 1 tbsp to a glass of boiled water (200 ml). l. s alt and sugar.
- Reception of sorbents. It is an important step in the treatment of rotavirus infection. To eliminate intoxication, doctors prescribe: "Activated charcoal", "Polysorb", "Smecta", etc.
- Taking or administering antiviralsdrugs. With rotavirus infection, agents of this action help to reduce the duration of the disease. Currently, there is no effective drug that completely rids the body of the pathogen. In order to increase the level of interferons, specialists prescribe: "Cycloferon", "Anaferon", "Kipferon", "Arbidol" or "Viferon". These funds are also available in children's form.
- Normalization of body temperature. If it has risen to critical values, it is necessary to drink any antipyretic agent based on ibuprofen or paracetamol. Suppositories (Cefekon, Nurofen) are administered rectally to small children or syrups of the same name are offered. Temperatures below 38 degrees do not require correction.
- Taking funds intended for the treatment of other intestinal infections. They are necessary to prevent the attachment of bacterial flora in severe pathology. In most cases, doctors prescribe Enterofuril. With rotavirus infection, the drug is ineffective, but prevents the development of complications. Means of such action should be prescribed only by a doctor in order to avoid negative consequences.
- Intake of probiotics and prebiotics. They are designed to increase the number of bacteria that are part of a he althy intestinal microflora. Experts recommend taking Enterol. With rotavirus infection, it has a complex effect on the body and contributes to the normalization of stool. It is also allowed to take Linex, Acipol, Bifiform, Bifidumbacterin, Hilak Forte.
- Strengthening the body's defenses. Forfor these purposes, antimicrobial agents, for example, Furazolidone, can also be prescribed. With rotavirus infection, the drug activates the immune system and inhibits the vital activity of pathogenic microorganisms.
- Pain relief. To eliminate an unpleasant symptom, it is enough to take the drug "No-shpa". Intramuscular or intravenous administration of the drug is also allowed.
Thus, the treatment of rotavirus infection is to eliminate unpleasant symptoms, reduce the duration of the disease and prevent the development of complications.
When a child has warning signs, it is necessary to show him to the pediatrician as soon as possible. With severe symptoms, an ambulance should be called. Before her arrival, it is allowed to wash the child's stomach. To do this, prepare a solution based on s alt, sugar and baking soda. Water should be boiled and cooled to about 35 degrees. In 1 liter it is necessary to dissolve 1 tsp. s alt, 1 tsp. soda and 4 tbsp. l. Sahara. It is not recommended to use potassium permanganate for washing, since it is extremely difficult to choose the right dosage for it. Cases where patients receive a chemical burn of the intestinal mucosa are not uncommon.
Folk treatments
Unconventional methods do not save the patient from the need to seek qualified medical care. In addition, their use should be agreed with the attending physician in order to avoid complications of the disease. It is not recommended to use alternative treatmentrotavirus infection in young children.
Recipes to improve the patient's condition:
- Prepare 5 g of cinnamon and 5 g of slippery elm in powder form. Mix the ingredients thoroughly and pour the composition on the back of the tongue, then drink it with enough water.
- Wash 100 g of raisins and pour 1 liter of water over it. Put the container on the fire for about half an hour. After the specified time, the broth should be cooled slightly and add 5 g of s alt and baking soda to it, as well as 20 g of sugar. Raisins are recommended to grind. The resulting decoction should be taken as often as possible, but in small portions.
- In order to prevent dehydration, it is recommended to drink saline. It should be taken in place of regular water. It is necessary to add 5 g of s alt and 20 g of sugar to 1 liter of boiled liquid. To prevent dehydration, the resulting solution should be drunk as often as possible, and not only when you feel thirsty.
- Grind 10 g of biennial primrose and pour 300 ml of boiling water over it. Let it brew for a few hours. The resulting remedy must be drunk 1 tbsp. l. 5 times a day. The tool helps to normalize the stool.
- Pour 5 g of potato starch into 100 ml of boiled water. The resulting mixture must be drunk in one gulp.
- Cook compote from dried blueberries. It is effective for severe diarrhea. It is important that the berries are dried. Otherwise, the diarrhea will become even more pronounced.
Diet
With rotavirusInfection nutrition is one of the most important points in the treatment. This is especially true for children, most of whom are difficult to tolerate the disease. The need to adjust the diet is due to the fact that the pathogen affects the intestinal villi, contributes to the development of inflammation in the digestive glands and disruption of food digestion. As a result, fermentation processes are launched and the production of enzymes necessary for the breakdown of carbohydrates is disrupted. Due to these changes, eating habitual foods increases diarrhea.
Rotavirus Nutrition Principles:
- When the appetite is disturbed, it is not necessary to force the patient to eat if he is not hungry. But at the same time, you need to drink water, dried fruit compote or saline as often as possible (with severe vomiting, portions of the liquid should be small so as not to increase it).
- In a mild form of the disease, indigestible foods and dairy products should be excluded from the menu. If a child who is breastfed is sick, it is recommended to temporarily transfer him to artificial feeding with a low-lactose formula.
- Until full recovery, it is forbidden to eat thermally unprocessed vegetables and fruits. It is also not recommended to eat confectionery.
- All meals must be boiled or steamed. Fatty, fried, spicy and smoked foods are prohibited.
When following a diet, not only does the patient feel better, but the duration of the course of the disease is also reduced.
Consequences and possiblecomplications
Rotavirus infection is not included in the list of the most dangerous diseases, but it can adversely affect he alth. According to statistics, half a million people die every year from pathology, which in most cases is due to self-medication and / or untimely seeking qualified medical help.
With proper therapy, rotavirus infection does not give complications. After recovery, the body returns to its previous state. If left untreated, a bacterial infection may attach, which will significantly worsen the course of the pathology.
The most serious consequence of rotavirus infection is death. It can happen with severe dehydration. A prolonged increase in temperature also negatively affects the functioning of internal organs. First of all, the brain suffers, since in such a state the process of death of its cells starts.
Prevention
Standard hygiene practices must be followed to prevent infection:
- Wash hands before eating and after walking.
- Drink boiled water.
- Use only personal hygiene items.
- Do not eat unwashed fruits, vegetables and berries.
- If a family member is infected with rotavirus, they should be isolated in a separate room and ventilated as often as possible.
In addition, there is a vaccine against the disease. It is now mandatory in many countries around the world. In Russiathe drug is still being tested, but cases of successful vaccination have already been recorded in Moscow.
In conclusion
Rotavirus infection is understood as a disease of the gastrointestinal tract, characterized by an acute course. Children are most susceptible to pathology, but adults can also become infected. The development of the disease is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea and a general deterioration in well-being. In adults, the disease is often asymptomatic. If there are warning signs, you should contact an infectious disease specialist.
