Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Rotavirus Infection

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My last article, Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Lyme Disease we learned that Lyme Disease is an an infection caused by a bacteria called Borrelia Burgdorferi which is usually spread by tick bites. An infected tick’s bite can transmit the bacteria into a person’s bloodstream causing fatigue, fever, headache and sometimes a rash.

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The greatest risk to a person with Lyme disease is an untreated condition which can eventually cause major complications to vital organs, blood vessels and the person’s entire immune system. Untreated Lyme disease can lead to serious heart and blood vessel complications, nerve damage and other major problems in areas like the endocrine system and the central nervous system. So everyone should take Lyme disease very seriously! Today I would like to move onto another childhood illness called Rotavirus.

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What Is Rotavirus Infection?

According to Medicine Net (https://www.medicinenet.com/rotavirus/article.htm) Rotavirus is a “virus that infects the bowels, causing a severe inflammation of the stomach and bowels (gastroenteritis). Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea among infants and children throughout the world and causes the death of about 500,000 children worldwide annually. The name rotavirus comes from the characteristic wheel-like appearance of the virus when viewed by electron microscopy (the name rotavirus is derived from the Latin rota, meaning "wheel").

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Rotavirus can easily spread causing outbreaks usually in the winter and early spring. There are usually outbreaks in places where many children are together like day care centers. Rotavirus is most common in children under the age of 5.

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What Are the Symptoms of Rotavirus?

Rotavirus infection usually starts within two days of exposure to the virus. According to Mayo Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rotavirus/symptoms-causes/syc-20351300) the initial symptoms are fever & vomiting which is followed by three to seven days of watery diarrhea. There is also abdominal pain due to this infection.

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Per Mayo Clinic parents should take their child to his/her doctor if the following symptoms/conditions happen:

• Has diarrhea for more than 24 hours
• Has frequent episodes of vomiting
• Has black or tarry stool or stool containing blood or pus
• Has a temperature of 104 F (40 C) or higher
• Seems lethargic, irritable or in pain
• Has signs or symptoms of dehydration, including dry mouth, crying without tears, little or no urination, unusual sleepiness, or unresponsiveness

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If you are an adult, you should call your doctor if the following happens:

• Can't keep liquids down for 24 hours
• Have diarrhea for more than two days
• Have blood in your vomit or bowel movements
• Have a temperature higher than 103 F (39.4 C)
• Have signs or symptoms of dehydration, including excessive thirst, dry mouth, little or no urination, severe weakness, dizziness on standing, or lightheadedness

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How Does Rotavirus Spread?

Rotavirus can be spread both before and after children show signs of being sick according to National foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) (http://www.nfid.org/idinfo/rotavirus/faqs.html#q9). If children touch something that has been contaminated by stool of an infected person and then puts their fingers into the mouth, they can then catch this virus. That is why it is imperative that children are taught and encouraged to wash their hands especially before eating and after using the toilet.

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NFID also said that people who care for children are also known to spread the virus especially if they themselves don’t wash their hands after changing diapers. “Rotavirus is resistant to most disinfectant cleaners, including anti-bacterial products. The virus can survive for a few hours on human hands and for days on hard and dry surfaces. As a result, rotavirus can be easily spread in families, and outbreaks can occur in childcare centers, playgroups, and hospitals.”

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KC Parent (http://www.kcparent.com/October-2011/Rotavirus-The-wheels-on-this-virus-go-round-and-round/) listed a number of ways that rotavirus can be spread:

• Dirty hands
• Contaminated food or water
• Direct contact with fecal matter (e.g., from dirty diapers or toilets)
• Surfaces which become contaminated with the diarrheal virus, such as toys, restroom surfaces, changing tables or the hands of a person preparing food can be a direct source of disease transmission.

It is especially important to know that the most effective way to prevent this infection from spreading is by washing your hands well.

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How Is Rotavirus Diagnosed?

According to Web MD (https://www.webmd.com/children/vaccines/tc/rotavirus-topic-overview#2) Rotavirus is usually diagnosed by the examining physician who will base his/her decision on the presenting symptoms of the patient. If the child has diarrhea and other symptoms during the winter or early spring, the doctor will often suspect rotavirus is the cause. Sometimes the doctor will have a test of the patient’s stool to confirm his/her diagnosis. Per Web MD “this kind of test is not needed unless your child has other health conditions that make it important to know the exact cause of symptoms.”

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How Is Rotavirus Treated?

There is no cure for rotavirus, so treatment of the disease is supportive (aimed at treating the symptoms present) according to Stanford Children’s Hospital (http://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=rotavirus-infections-90-P02540). The following is a list of supportive measures recommended:

• Oral rehydration with water, formula, breast milk and/or special electrolyte--containing fluids (fluids containing sugars and salts), such as Pedialyte (very young children should NOT be rehydrated with soda, juices, or sports drinks)

• Continue feeding your child solid foods (if he or she is able to tolerate it)

• It is no longer recommended to restrict a child's diet when he or she has diarrhea. Restricting the child's diet may actually make the diarrhea last longer.

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Stanford Children’s Hospital stated that about one out of every 70 children may develop severe enough dehydration to require hospitalization. Treatment in the hospital may include:

• Intravenous (IV) fluids

• Nasogastric (NG) tube feedings. A small tube may be placed into your child's stomach through his or her nose so that formula or fluids may be administered.

• Blood work. The blood work measures your child's electrolyte levels--sugar, salt, and other chemicals in the blood.

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How Can Rotavirus Be Prevented?

According to NHS (https://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/rotavirus-vaccine.aspx) the best way to prevent Rotavirus is by an oral vaccine which contains a weakened strain of rotavirus. This will help your baby to build up immunity so that the next time they encounter this virus, they will not get the disease. Per NHS this vaccine is very effective and provides good immunity to the rotavirus infection. Since this vaccine was introduced in 2013, cases of rotavirus have been down by 69%.

Based on a lot of evidence since 2013, the rotavirus vaccine has been proven safe. This vaccine has been used extensively in other countries including Belgium, Finland, Austria and Canada, for 5 to 6 years and no safety concerns have been raised.

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According to Stanford Children’s Hospital the U.S. FDA has approved two oral rotavirus vaccines, RotaTeq & Rotarix. “No risk for intussusception was found in clinical trials with the vaccines in the United States. The CDC recommends that infants receive either the RotaTeq oral vaccine at age 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months or the Rotarix oral vaccine at age 2 months and 4 months.”

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Other preventative measures parents can take is by doing certain things at home. Stanford Children’s Hospital recommends the following:

• Proper hygiene and hand-washing technique--washing with soap and water before eating and after going to the bathroom

• Cleaning hard surfaces, toys, and doorknobs

• Proper handling and disposal of dirty diapers, even after your child no longer has symptoms

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Any Complications of Rotavirus?

With Rotavirus the individual will have vomiting and diarrhea which can lead to a lack of fluid in his/her body. This is a condition called Dehydration which can be fatal in very severe cases. The doctor should be consulted when your child shows signs of dehydration. The following symptoms of dehydration are, according to Patient (https://patient.info/health/rotavirus-leaflet):

• Symptoms of dehydration in children include passing little urine, a dry mouth, a dry tongue and lips, fewer tears when crying, sunken eyes, weakness, being irritable or having no energy.

• Symptoms of severe dehydration in children include drowsiness, pale or mottled skin, cold hands or feet, very few wet nappies, and fast (but often shallow) breathing. This is a medical emergency and immediate medical attention is needed.

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According to Patient dehydration is more likely to occur in:

• Children under the age of 1 year (especially those under 6 months old). This is because babies don't need to lose much fluid to become dehydrated.

• Children under the age of 1 year who were a low birth weight and who have not 'caught up' with their weight.

• Any child with severe diarrhea and vomiting - especially if they have passed six or more very loose stools (faeces) or vomited three or more times in the previous 24 hours.

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Fast Facts About Rotavirus?

The following is a list of fast facts about Rotavirus according to Dr.Greene (https://www.drgreene.com/fast-facts-rotaviruses/):

• About 50,000 children are hospitalized in the United States each year for rotavirus infections .

• Rotaviruses cause about 1 in 78 children in the United States to be hospitalized before they enter kindergarten.

• They are the leading cause of both routine vomiting and diarrheal illnesses and of severe, life-threatening diarrhea in every country in the world.

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• Almost every child on the planet becomes infected by age 5.

• 900,000 young children around the world die each year from rotaviruses. Most of these deaths occur in developing countries.

• In the US, rotaviruses are responsible for more than 3.5 million diarrheal illnesses, half a million physician visits, 50,000 hospitalizations, and 20 tragic deaths each year. Those who are admitted to the hospital stay for an average of four days.

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• The extreme dehydration that can be caused by rotaviruses is second only to the dehydration caused by cholera.

• Rotaviruses are extremely contagious. They originate in the stool, but are found throughout the environment wherever young children spend much time, especially during the winter months.

• Rotavirus particles remain active on human hands for at least 4 hours, on hard dry surfaces for 10 days, and on wet areas for weeks.

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• There is a fairly rapid test for rotavirus diarrhea. The direct-antigen test can give results in 24 hours.

• In February 2006, the FDA approved a new rotavirus vaccine called “RotaTeq.” It is given orally to children at 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months of age. This vaccine has been shown to significantly reduce severe and life-threatening cases of rotavirus.

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Image Credit](https://thoughtscapism.com/2016/05/08/reasons-to-love-the-rotavirus-vaccine/)

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In conclusion Rotavirus is an infection that is known as the most common cause of inflammation of the stomach and intestines, leading to severe diarrhea in infants and children throughout the world. Before the development of a rotavirus vaccine, most children in the US had at least one bout of rotavirus by age 5. Symptoms of this condition are fever, vomiting and diarrhea. It is extremely contagious and tends to lead to outbreaks where many children are together like day care centers. The major complication of rotavirus is dehydration due to the vomiting and diarrhea that can lead to a lack of fluid in the body. Very severe dehydration can be fatal. There is now a vaccine that is very effective and provides good immunity to the rotavirus infection. There is no cure for rotavirus, so treatment of the disease is supportive.

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I hope you learned something from this article about Rotavirus Infection. There are many resources on the internet if you need more specific information. I will continue this series with another childhood disease post. I hope you will continue to join me in this quest to learn about these illnesses that children usually encounter when they are young. Thank-you for reading my article on ”Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Rotavirus Infection”. If you would like to follow me, please check HERE

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These are my previous articles. if you are interested in reading it:

Teachers & Parents Beware of Impetigo: I Gave It To My Teacher
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/teachers-and-parents-beware-of-impetigo-i-gave-it-to-my-teacher

Childhood Diseases –On a Mission to Learn: Chicken Pox
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-diseases-on-a-mission-to-educate-chickenpox

Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Strep Throat
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-diseases-on-a-mission-to-educate-strep-throat

Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Fifth Disease
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-diseases-on-a-mission-to-educate-fifth-disease

Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Measles
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-diseases-on-a-mission-to-educate-measles

Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Mumps
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-diseases-on-a-mission-to-educate-mumps

Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Croup
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-diseases-on-a-mission-to-educate-croup

Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-diseases-on-a-mission-to-educate-pertussis-whooping-cough

Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Asthma
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-diseases-on-a-mission-to-educate-asthma

Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Tetanus
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-diseases-on-a-mission-to-educate-tetanus

Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Ear Infections
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-diseases-on-a-mission-to-educate-ear-infections

Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Reye’s Syndrome
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-diseases-on-a-mission-to-educate-reye-s-syndrome

Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Kawasaki Disease
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-diseases-on-a-mission-to-educate-kawasaki-disease

Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Hand, Foot, & Mouth Disease
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-diseases-on-a-mission-to-educate-hand-foot-and-mouth-disease

Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Ringworm
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-diseases-on-a-mission-to-educate-ringworm

Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Lyme Disease
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-diseases-on-a-mission-to-educate-lyme-disease

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