Rotaviruses are a group of viral infections that most often provoke intestinal flu in children aged 6 months to 2 years. This virus can affect not only a child, but also adults, however, in them the disease proceeds in a milder form with erased symptoms. This viral infection is quite contagious.
Intestinal flu is transmitted through contaminated food, through household contact, and through contact with a sick person. The incidence of rotavirus infections is seasonal, and most often this occurs in winter.
What is disease?
Rotavirus infection is an infectious disease of the intestines, provoked by certain viruses and manifested in the form of diarrhea, general dehydration, vomiting and other characteristic signs. The rotavirus epidemic occurs mainly in the cold season, when there is the highest incidence of colds, including influenza.
As a result of this infection, patients have not only signs of the flu, but also symptomsintestinal lesions. Mostly young children suffer from this disease, but this problem can also occur at an older age. This is explained by the fact that after the course of rotavirus, a child does not form a stable immunity that prevents infection in the future.
How does infection happen?
It is important to understand exactly how rotavirus is transmitted so that you can take preventive measures and avoid infection. Among the main reasons for the spread of this infection are weak immunity, as well as the special anatomical structure of the intestinal mucosa. It is worth noting that the risk of infection is high not only in young children, but also in the elderly, due to a weakened immune system and the inability of the body to fight viruses normally.
Many are interested in how rotavirus is transmitted in order to understand exactly how an infection can occur. It is worth noting that the source of the disease can be not only a sick person who clearly shows signs of infection, but also an asymptomatic carrier. It has no signs of damage, but virus particles are released.
The main form of transmission is fecal-oral. After the virus enters the body, it begins to actively multiply in the intestines. Subsequently, pathological cells are separated from the mucosa and excreted along with the feces. However, they still retain their viability for a long time.
If in the future a he althy person comes into contact with contaminated objectsfeces of the patient, the virus can get on the skin, and subsequently the intestines of a person. As a result, a pronounced clinical picture of rotavirus develops.
Scientists have not been able to accurately determine whether the virus can be transmitted by airborne droplets. Many children have signs of rotavirus along with respiratory symptoms. In this case, neither the flu nor the common cold develops. This may indicate that the infection initially penetrated the respiratory mucosa, and only after that the intestinal cells were damaged.
Main symptoms
Rotavirus symptoms are caused by damage to the intestinal mucosa and malabsorption of beneficial and nutrients, as well as a weakening of the immune system and the whole body. The infection may present as:
- nausea and vomiting;
- diarrhea;
- bloating;
- abdominal pain;
- temperature increase;
- headache;
- weaknesses.
In case of rotavirus, the incubation period lasts for 1-7 days, although sometimes it is only a few hours. During all this time, the virus has already penetrated the intestines, struck the mucous membrane and began to actively multiply. However, there was no digestive disturbance, and there are no systemic manifestations of the disease, since the particles of the virus have not yet managed to penetrate into the blood, and the immune system has not begun to fight the infection.
It is worth noting that during the incubation period of rotavirus, a person may experience weakness, fever,fatigue, sore throat and cough. This may be due to damage to the respiratory system. After the incubation period, an acute course of the disease occurs, accompanied by an increase in characteristic signs. Several hours pass from the moment the first symptoms of rotavirus appear to the development of a characteristic clinical picture.
One of the characteristic signs of the disease is nausea and vomiting. Mostly it is single, but it can be repeated 2-3 times. The vomit contains particles of undigested food, and there may also be bile impurities. Many are interested in how to distinguish rotavirus from poisoning. It is worth noting that in case of poisoning, vomiting is repeated, profuse and may even be watery. With a rotavirus infection, vomiting stops by the end of the first day of the infection and only in some cases can be observed for 2-3 days.
Diarrhea occurs almost immediately with vomiting or literally an hour after it. The mechanism of development of this symptom is largely associated with intestinal damage. As a result of the destruction of the mucosa, the absorption of nutrients is impaired. The urge to defecate is quite frequent and occurs 2-3 times a day with a mild infection and 20-50 times with a severe course. They are so strong that the patient is simply unable to restrain them. Stool with rotavirus infection is different in that it:
- foamy;
- liquid;
- fetid;
- yellowish or greenish.
Sometimes feces can containviscous mucus impurities, but this is not always a sign of rotavirus. The duration of diarrhea varies depending on the nature of the disease and is approximately 1-6 days.
Often the patient has pain in the abdomen, but this is not a mandatory symptom of infection. The patient may complain of pulling, aching or cramping pain, which can be greatly aggravated by vomiting or diarrhea. The reason for this may be spasms of the intestinal muscles, which develop against a background of increased activity. Attacks occur every 3-5 minutes and are accompanied by the urge to defecate.
A characteristic manifestation of the disease is fever that occurs immediately after the end of the incubation period. In addition, there may be signs of general intoxication of the body, manifested as:
- high fatigue;
- sluggishness;
- headaches;
- aches in muscles and joints;
- shortness of breath.
It is worth noting that the severity of these symptoms largely depends on the severity of the disease, as well as the presence or absence of comorbidities. It is very important to know exactly how to distinguish rotavirus from poisoning so that appropriate treatment can be prescribed. During the course of rotavirus infection, signs of flu and intestinal disorders are observed.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis and treatment of rotavirus is carried out by an infectious disease doctor. If the first signs of illness occur, you should contact your family doctor or call an ambulance. During the examination, it may be necessaryconsultation with an otolaryngologist and gastroenterologist. The diagnostic process includes:
- patient survey;
- clinical study;
- laboratory diagnostics.
During the survey, the doctor clarifies the data regarding the onset and development of the disease, which is required to make the correct diagnosis. After that, a clinical study of the patient is necessary to assess his condition. Clinical examination includes:
- inspection;
- palpation;
- tapping;
- listening.
On examination, the doctor may notice dryness of the skin, a decrease in their luster. The reason for this may be dehydration, provoked by vomiting and diarrhea. Palpation consists in assessing the skin, as well as other organs.
In addition, you need to be tested for rotavirus, which will allow you to accurately diagnose, as well as timely determine the presence of complications that may develop against the background of the infection. It is best to perform all studies before starting treatment, since the use of antiviral drugs or antibiotics can distort the data and make it difficult to identify viruses or bacteria, thereby reducing the effectiveness of therapeutic measures. To test for rotavirus, you can use:
- blood;
- piss;
- cal;
- saliva and other biological material.
Complete blood count is not informative enough, as only some data canindicate the presence of an infection in the body. The most sensitive method for diagnosing rotavirus infection is the polymerase chain reaction method. The study can reveal the genetic material of the virus.
You can confirm the presence of rotavirus in the body using a rapid test. It allows you to identify particles of bacteria in the feces. You can buy it at a pharmacy, and the kit includes all the devices required for the study.
Features of treatment
There are no specific drugs for the treatment of rotavirus. Therapeutic measures are aimed at combating the symptoms of the disease. If the patient has a reduced appetite, then it is impossible to force him to eat, you can only give him a drink of broth or jelly. Dairy products should not be consumed as they are a very good breeding ground for bacteria.
To prevent dehydration, it is recommended to drink clean water or saline solutions. The liquid should be taken in small portions every 30 minutes. If the patient's condition is very severe, intravenous fluids may be required.
To remove toxins, you need to use sorbents, and to prevent the addition of a bacterial infection - antidiarrheals. In addition, preparations containing enzymes may be required.
Reduce the temperature only if you feel unwell and intolerant to it, as this kills rotaviruses. As soon as the state of he alth returns to normal and the patient has an appetite, he is prescribed drugs to restore the microfloraintestines.
Medicated treatment
Treatment of rotavirus should only be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. In especially severe cases, the patient is hospitalized in the infectious diseases department. Despite the spread of this disease, there is no specific medicine to destroy the virus, which is why therapeutic measures are aimed at eliminating the existing symptoms, restoring the water-s alt balance and restoring the functioning of the intestines and stomach. Is the medicine for rotavirus prescribed by the attending doctor? and therapy involves the use of drugs such as:
- antiviral;
- antiemetic;
- enterosorbents;
- antipyretic;
- antimicrobial.
To prevent dehydration, the drug "Regidron" may be prescribed. Antiviral agents "Citovir-3" or "Viferon" help to reduce the activity of viruses. To remove toxins, enterosorbents are prescribed, in particular, such as Smecta or Enterosgel.
Bifidumbacteria help restore the normal intestinal microflora, and also protect the mucosa from damage, in particular, such as Linex, Normobact. To prevent the occurrence of allergic reactions, antihistamines are prescribed, for example, such as Zodak, Claritin, Tavegil.
The medicine for rotavirus, the course of therapy and the dosage of drugs are prescribed by the doctor in accordance with the patient's age and other features. In a hospital setting, drugs can be administeredintramuscularly or intravenously. It is important to note that it is imperative to follow a special diet and follow the doctor's recommendations.
Treatment with folk remedies
Together with medications and diet for the treatment of rotavirus, you can use folk remedies that will help restore fluid volume, increase body resistance, and also accelerate the elimination of harmful and dangerous substances. A good result can be obtained by consuming dried blueberries, which can be used to make compote.
Herbal decoctions of wormwood, chamomile, oak bark also help to normalize the patient's well-being. However, it is worth remembering that before treating with these drugs, you need to consult a doctor. A good alternative to the use of chamomile flowers is the drug "Gastrolit", which contains this plant. Its great advantage is that the medicine can be used by children from 6 months of age.
Dieting
With rotavirus in adults, special attention is paid to the diet, since the development of the pathological process disrupts the activity of digestive enzymes, in particular lactase. In the acute period of the course of the disease, it is recommended to exclude fatty dairy products and limit the intake of foods rich in carbohydrates. In addition, you should not consume fatty meat products, rich broths, fried foods.
Food should be consumed in small portions, and the list of allowed foods includes vegetable purees andsoups, liquid porridge, baked apples. It is very important to observe the correct drinking regimen. With severe diarrhea and vomiting, you need to constantly replenish the volume of lost fluid. You need to drink very slowly, in small sips, with breaks of a few minutes. With a sharp deterioration in the condition with rotavirus, only the attending doctor can determine what to do, since the disease can provoke various complications.
Possible Complications
Rotavirus in adults and children develops quite rapidly, and its acute phase lasts for 5 days. Initially, it is quite difficult to recognize the course of the infection, since fever, vomiting and diarrhea can be signs of many other diseases. It is very important to carry out treatment in a timely manner, as this threatens with serious complications. Among the most dangerous conditions are the following:
- dehydration;
- dysbacteriosis;
- liver failure;
- decreased immunity.
Significant dehydration can lead to disruption of the functioning of vital organs, as well as provoke the death of the patient. Incorrect and untimely treatment can lead to the fact that pathogenic microflora colonizes the intestines, and the body, weakened from the infection and drugs, does not have enough resources to fight the infection.
With the course of the disease, the regenerative abilities of immunity are significantly reduced. A weakened body cannot normally resist viruses, which is why there is a significant risk of re-infection. With rotavirusin children, the risk of death is quite high, but treatment is quite problematic.
Prophylaxis
Many are interested in how not to get infected with rotavirus, since the treatment of the disease is quite problematic, and it can cause various complications. There is an opinion that the infection is transmitted through contaminated objects, then it is enough to follow the rules of personal hygiene to eliminate the problem.
To prevent rotavirus, you need to use disinfectants and hand soap. Only solutions of alcohol, chlorine and iodine effectively affect the infection. Many believe that it is enough to get sick only once to acquire immunity for life. This is not entirely correct as there are several different types of rotaviruses.
Vaccination against infection is used as a prophylaxis against rotavirus. This is a live vaccine "Rotatec" for oral administration. It protects against the most common types of viruses. Immunity after vaccination lasts for 5 years.
Feature of the course of infection in children
Rotavirus in children is quite acute with severe symptoms. From the very first day of infection, the temperature rises, nausea, vomiting and loose stools appear. As the inflammatory process develops, the feces acquire a characteristic yellowish-gray hue, and also have a clay-like consistency.
In addition, there are catarrhal symptoms, in particular, such as soreness and inflammation in the throat,runny nose, and also a cough. The child becomes cranky and refuses to eat.
It is important not only to understand how to treat the disease, but also how not to get infected with rotavirus, as it can provoke many complications, up to the death of a child. When the first signs appear, you should immediately call an ambulance.
During the treatment period, a special balanced diet and a certain diet are of great importance. All medications should be prescribed by the attending physician, taking into account the age of the child. In especially severe cases, hospitalization in the infectious diseases department is required.
It is very important to carry out prevention, which implies hygiene. Avoid contact with a sick person, wash fruits and vegetables, and avoid drinking raw water.
