Rotavirus infections in infants and young children can cause serious symptoms that can affect health. Growth disorders including appetite loss, and dehydration. Children younger than 5 years of age are often infected with rotavirus, which is one of the most common causes of diarrhea. However, serious infections can lead to dehydrated diarrhea. Let's look at rotavirus.
Rotavirus
Rotavirus is a virus that infects the inside of the small intestine and attacks cells that grow mainly along the internal lining of the body. It interferes with and damages the function of the intestinal cells, making it impossible for the small intestine to absorb nutrients from the food. The virus is a very common disease in almost every country, regardless of region.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says the rotavirus is the leading cause of diarrhea in infants and young children. A major cause of acute gastroenteritis in infants and young children. Infants less than 11 months of age are most affected, with high mortality rates reported mainly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In the United States, about 250,000 cases of emergency rooms were reported under the age of five, with mortality rates of around 20 to 60 per year. Fortunately, the mortality rate is on the decline since the introduction of the vaccine.
Viruses are produced in the feces of infected babies before and after disease symptoms. It is common for a baby to get infected by touching a contaminated object and bringing a finger into the mouth. Especially when the baby goes to the toilet before eating without washing hands properly, the risk rate increases. However, it is not transmitted by sneezing or coughing.
Adults who care for their babies, such as nannies, parents, and babysitters, can also spread the virus if they do not wash their hands after changing diapers.
Symptoms and Symptoms
If the baby gets a rotavirus, symptoms will appear for about 2 days. Most are fever, vomiting and abdominal pain, which disappear when diarrhea begins. Diarrhea can occur continuously for about 5-7 days when the virus passes through the baby's internal organs. Adults also have similar symptoms, but are less serious than babies.
In the United States, about 3 million cases of diarrhea and dehydration due to rotavirus infection and about 55,000 cases of hospitalization are reported under the age of 5 years.
Diagnosis
Rotavirus diagnosis is done by collecting a stool sample from a baby and verifying the presence of a virus in the stool. In addition, the blood test can be done, through the blood test for antibodies to the virus to determine whether the infection. In addition, physical examination according to the judgment of a doctor and information about various symptoms are also helpful for diagnosis.
cure
There are currently no specific therapeutic drugs for rotavirus only. Antibiotics are not treatable and there is no antiviral system. It is common to prescribe medications to help relieve symptoms, and vomiting, diarrhea, and adequate hydration to replace missing minerals are imperative. In this case, it is mainly used to supply the liquid to return the baby's body fluid and the body's saline to the normal level. However, older children can be cared for at home.
However, as described above, antibiotics are not effective against diseases caused by viruses and antibiotics are not prescribed.
Preventive eye
It is best to regularly inoculate the rotavirus vaccine to prevent it from getting into the rotavirus. This RotaTeq vaccine is highly effective in preventing about 75% of rotavirus infections and about 98% in severe cases. In addition, another vaccine called Rotarix can be vaccinated.
Previously used rotavirus vaccine was banned in 1999 because it raised the risk of intestinal obstruction in infants and children. However, RotaTex and Rotarix developed afterwards do not increase the risk, so vaccination is enough.
But the most important thing is to stay clean. Wash your hands often. If you have an infected baby, isolate it until diarrhea is complete.
