Rotavirus Gastroenteritis
Background information
- What is Rotavirus Gastroenteritis?
Rotavirus gastroenteritis is a viral infection predominantly affecting infants and young children that causes severe diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. Because of the rapid dehydration that results from the combination of diarrhea and vomiting, the disease can be fatal.
- Global burden
Rotavirus is the most common form of severe diarrhea in infants and children. Each year, rotavirus is responsible for an estimated 527,000 deaths (85 percent of deaths occur in developing countries) and over 2 million hospitalizations.
- Geographic distribution
Pandemic; rotavirus is found in all countries.
- Causative agent/transmission
Rotavirus is a non-enveloped, double-stranded RNA virus that is transmitted by the fecal-oral route via person-to-person contact or, less frequently, via contaminated food, water, or objects. Upon ingestion, the virus infects epithelial cells lining the small intestine, inside of which it replicates manyfold, causing cells to excrete fluids, which results in profuse, watery diarrhea. Once released, virus particles can infect neighboring cells, reinitiating the cycle of infection. Rotavirus exists in multiple serotypes, is stable in the environment and is highly contagious; improved sanitation has little effect on disease control.
Presentation
Symptoms include fever, vomiting, and severe diarrhea leading to rapid dehydration. Symptoms appear two to three days after exposure and last three to eight days.
Trends
By age three, nearly all children have been exposed to rotavirus. In developing countries, 75 percent or more of children have their first infection by 12 months of age. The availability of highly efficacious vaccines is expected to have a major impact on diarrheal disease in infants and young children.
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