Rotavirus

Rotavirus

Rotavirus infection is a disease that causes diarrhea in infants and young children. Rotavirus is a type of virus that is easily transmitted and is a major cause of diarrhea in young children, especially those between the ages of 6 months and 2 years old. It is reported that almost every child under the age of 5 has been infected with rotavirus at least once in their lifetime. If an adult or older child is infected, they may experience more severe symptoms or fewer symptoms than a young child.

This virus is the leading cause of severe diarrhea in young children, which can require hospitalization due to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. It is a virus that spreads widely throughout the world.

Even in developed countries in Europe and the United States, where there is knowledge of public health and medicine, it is difficult to avoid rotavirus infection.

It is estimated that each year, at least 2 million children under the age of 5 become sick with rotavirus infection, causing severe diarrhea.

How do children get infected?

The infection of rotavirus occurs when a person ingests something that has been contaminated with the virus through the mouth, such as water, food, or objects like toys, or hands that have been contaminated with the virus and then touch the mouth. After infection, the virus travels through the digestive system, namely the stomach and small intestine, damaging the walls of the intestines, causing a decrease in water and mineral absorption, and abnormal enzyme production for carbohydrate digestion.

What are the symptoms of the disease?

After being infected with rotavirus, the symptoms typically appear between 1-3 days and may include the following:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever (which may be as high as 39°C)
• Respiratory symptoms, such as runny nose, cough, and sore throat may also be present
• Abdominal pain and diarrhea, which may occur up to 10-20 times a day

Most people recover within 3-5 days, but some may experience prolonged diarrhea for up to 9 days to 3 weeks. Severe cases may lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, which can be life-threatening.

It should be noted that the loss of fluids and electrolytes is greater than that caused by other types of bacterial infections, increasing the risk of death. Therefore, if symptoms are severe, medical attention should be sought immediately. The best treatment is to ensure adequate fluid and electrolyte replacement.

How to know if the symptoms of diarrhea are caused by rotavirus?

A diagnosis of rotavirus-induced diarrhea is made by a medical professional based on the child's symptoms and the season when it occurs (which typically occurs during the winter months, between November and January). Additionally, a stool sample may be collected and tested for the presence of the virus.

If a child gets infected, how should they be treated?

Since there is no direct antiviral medication for this type of virus, treatment is based on symptom management. If the symptoms are not severe, medication can be taken at home, such as replenishing lost minerals by drinking saltwater to compensate for those lost from diarrhea and vomiting, and taking medication for nausea if vomiting is frequent.

If these symptoms occur, it is recommended to immediately bring the child to a doctor or hospital for urgent treatment:

• Weakness, lack of energy, dry mouth, sunken eyes
• Cold body or high fever (temperature greater than 38.5 degrees Celsius)
• Convulsions
• Difficult breathing
• Little urine output, dark urine or no urine for more than 6 hours
• Severe vomiting that prevents intake of medication
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How can we protect children from getting infected?

Childcare facilities and kindergartens should provide hand washing and disinfecting facilities that meet health standards, and maintain the cleanliness of the premises and equipment, including proper disposal of children's waste. If a sick child is found, precautions should be taken to prevent the spread of the virus to other children.

Parents should promptly take the child to a doctor and continue treatment until recovery.

The basic preventive measures for diarrhea are maintaining good hygiene, ensuring clean food and drinking water, toys, and teaching proper hand washing. These measures are generally effective in preventing bacterial and viral infections, but are not completely effective against rotavirus.

Since rotavirus is more easily transmitted, 1 cc of infected feces can contain 1,000,000,000 viruses, making it important to prioritize good hygiene and sanitation to prevent transmission.

The best way is to get vaccinated against Rotavirus infection. Strengthening the immune system with orally administered vaccines is a convenient and effective method that allows children to have enough immunity to prevent the disease. It helps reduce the severity of illness. The first dose of Rotavirus vaccine should be given between 6 weeks and 4 months of age and should be completed by 8 months of age.

Studies have shown that the Rotavirus vaccine can prevent severe diarrhea caused by the virus by about 80-90% in fully vaccinated children.

If there are subsequent infections (due to different strains of Rotavirus), the symptoms will be less severe because some immunity is already present.

Rotavirus is a highly resilient virus that can survive well in various environmental conditions. There is no specific treatment for Rotavirus, and general treatment is based on the symptoms. Vaccination with orally administered vaccines remains the best prevention method.