Rotavirus infection is defined as rotavirus, intestinal flu, rotavirus gastroenteritis. Rotavirus, entering the human body, causes an infectious process, which is characterized by high contagiousness, a short incubation period and an acute course.

Outwardly, the infection manifests itself as a state of intoxication, damage to the stomach and intestines, and severe dehydration.

Rotavirus infection affects children and adults, but unlike children, adults have milder symptoms of rotavirus. A person becomes contagious when the first signs of the disease appear, and remains so until they disappear completely (2-7 days).

This disease is especially dangerous for young children (the immune system in a small child is much weaker than in an adult), as well as for adults with reduced immunity and the elderly.

Causes

What it is? The causative agent of the disease is rotavirus, a microscopic particle covered with a three-layer shell and shaped like a wheel. Rotaviruses are resistant to environmental factors. Microbes do not die when exposed to low temperatures, ether, chlorine, formaldehyde, ultrasound. Viruses lose their pathogenic properties with prolonged boiling or treatment with alkalis and acids.

An adult can only catch a rotavirus infection from a person, since animal rotaviruses do not pose a danger to humans. The main ways of spreading the virus:

• contact-household(through household items, in case of non-observance of the rules of personal hygiene - dirty hands, incl.);
• alimentary (along with food, poorly washed vegetables and fruits, when drinking contaminated water);
• airborne(when the patient sneezes or coughs).

Viruses enter the human body, reach the small intestine and begin to actively multiply in enterocytes - cells of the surface epithelium. Microbes exert their pathogenic effect, which leads to the destruction of mature intestinal cells and their replacement with defective and undifferentiated ones. The processes of splitting, absorption and biosynthesis of some enzymes are disrupted. Intermediate metabolic products from the small intestine enter the large intestine, osmotic pressure rises and diarrhea develops.

If we examine under a microscope the area of ​​the mucous membrane that is affected by rotavirus infection, then outwardly it will be smoothed, the villi are significantly shortened, and inclusions of rotaviruses are noticeable in the mucous membrane itself. They can be seen best with the help of an electron microscope - this greatly improves the diagnosis of the disease. The intestinal lining is restored in about one to two months.

Rotavirus infection symptoms

The disease includes an incubation period lasting about 5 days, an acute period lasting from 3 days to 1 week, and a recovery period lasting 4-5 days. This disease is considered childhood because the organisms of adults are more protected from rotaviruses. In an adult, the acidity of gastric juice is higher and the amount of secretory IgA produced is higher.

Rotavirus infection is characterized by an acute onset - vomiting, a sharp rise in temperature, diarrhea, often very characteristic stools - on the second, third day, gray-yellow and clay-like. In addition, most of the sick have a runny nose, redness in the throat, and they experience pain when swallowing. In the acute period, there is no appetite, a state of decay is observed.

The above symptoms are more typical for children. In adults, the symptoms of rotavirus infection are often similar to those of a common indigestion. Possibly a decrease in appetite, loose stools, an increase in body temperature, which persist for a short time. Often, rotavirus infection in adults occurs without visible signs, however, they are contagious to others. If there is a sick person in a team or family, then the people around him alternately begin to get sick.

Differential diagnosis

Very often, the diagnosis is made on the basis of the patient's symptoms and complaints. In this case, the most reliable method for diagnosing rotavirus infection is a specific analysis of feces (immunochromatography). Other studies are not indicative of a quick diagnosis.

Differentiate rotavirus infection with diseases having similar symptoms... These include:

• cholera;
• dysentery;
• escherichiosis;
• gastrointestinal salmonellosis;
• intestinal yersiniosis;
• some types of protozonosis (giardiasis, cryptosporoidosis and balantidiasis).

As a rule, in an adult, the pathology proceeds without features, in the usual uncomplicated form. But in the case of late diagnosis, initiation of treatment and significant suppression of immunity, complications may arise.

Treatment for rotavirus infection in adults

There are no specific drugs that would be aimed specifically at destroying rotaviruses.

In adults, complex therapeutic measures are mainly prescribed for the purpose of symptomatic treatment, which is aimed at replenishing fluid losses in the body and combating intoxication. For this, rehydration and detoxification therapy is carried out.

If patients have a decreased appetite, then you should not force them to eat, you can offer to drink homemade jelly from berries or chicken broth. Food and drink should be consumed in small portions so as not to provoke an attack of vomiting. Do not eat any dairy products, as they are a good breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria.

Drug treatment

As already mentioned, there is no special medicine for the treatment of rotavirus infection in adults. If the symptoms are pronounced, then drug treatment is focused on eliminating specific symptoms. Due to the fact that the disease is contagious, at the time of treatment the patient must be isolated, thereby limiting the spread of rotavirus infection.

Painful sensations and intestinal cramps can be relieved with a regular no-shpa. You can bring down the temperature when the mark is above 38 degrees, since most rotaviruses die at high temperatures. To relieve fever, you can use antipyretics:

1. Paracetamol;
2. Aspirin;
3. Analgin;
4. Nurofen;
5. Coldrex;
6. Rinza.

Getting rid of intoxication means taking sorbents that absorb toxins and remove them from the body. For example:

1. Smecta;
2. Enterosgel;
3. Polysorb;
4. Activated carbon;
5. White coal;
6. Liferan;
7. Intravenous administration of glucose with colloidal solution.

Rehydration solution is necessary if you have frequent diarrhea and vomiting. Because of them, the body is rapidly losing fluid, and if the disease is accompanied by a high temperature, then the risk of dehydration increases dramatically.

Therefore, to preserve fluid, the drug Rehydron is prescribed - it is a powder that is dissolved in water and drunk in large (but limited) quantities in small sips every 10-15 minutes. If you do not have a rehydron, you can include a saline solution prepared at home in your diet. Forcing to drink forcibly is prohibited, as this provokes vomiting and a violation of the water-salt balance.

As you can see, if there is a rotavirus infection, treatment in adults is not that difficult. However, only if you start it in a timely manner, you can count on the fact that you can get rid of the disease as soon as possible. Otherwise, as mentioned above, the risk of developing various complications is very high.

Microflora restoration

After the disappearance of all the symptoms of the disease, it is necessary to start restoring the intestinal microflora. Usually Linex or another is prescribed. The course of treatment and dosage are set taking into account the individual characteristics of the organism.

Diet

Rotavirus infection completely excludes the use of products such as:

• fresh bread, pastries;
• canned food, sausage, cheese, smoked and raw fish;
• dairy and fermented milk products;
• pasta, pearl barley, yachka, millet;
• cabbage, garlic, onion, radish;
• chocolate.

If the person can eat, you can feed him liquid chicken broth or rice porridge cooked in water without adding oil. But you need to feed in small portions intermittently so as not to cause an attack of vomiting.

Prophylaxis

To avoid the occurrence of rotavirus gastroenteritis, the following rules must be followed:

• thoroughly wash vegetables, fruits and citrus fruits in running water immediately before use;
• regularly monitor the cleanliness of your hands, as well as keep the house clean;
• eat only high-quality food;
• use boiled or bottled water for drinking.

Also, as an effective remedy against rotavirus, WHO recommends preventive vaccination.

Content

This disease causes inflammation in the upper respiratory tract and digestive organs. A child can become infected with a rotavirus infection for various reasons, and an adult can also get sick from it. However, in children, the disease is much more complicated than in parents.

What is rotavirus infection in a child?

This disease in children is provoked by pathogenic viruses that affect the patient's gastrointestinal tract. The acute form is characterized by the development of fever, the appearance of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and an increase in body temperature. The diagnosis of intestinal flu (or rotavirus infection in children) is made on the basis of a whole range of laboratory tests and epidemiological data.

The therapeutic process of this disease includes:

• rehydration;
• special diet;
• detoxification;
• taking medications.

Rotavirus in a child is a disease that belongs to the group of viral diarrhea. In theory, a person of any age can become infected with it, but in children this ailment is recorded more often. Rotavirus infection in children is dealt with by gastroenterologists, pediatricians or pediatric infectious disease specialists. The susceptibility of babies to this virus is very high. In the first five years of their life, every child gets the intestinal flu, sometimes multiple times. In more than half of cases, the infection develops in infants from 3 months to 2 years.

Infants (up to three months) develop passive immunity to viruses. However, for this, the baby must be breastfed. Otherwise, even a tiny baby can get sick. Relapses are repeated no earlier than 6-12 months after the child has had rotavirus. When reinfected, the symptoms are much more tolerated by children.

Causes of the disease

Rotavirus infection in children can be spread by other people who are sick or who carry the flu. When you notice the first signs of an illness in your child, then he becomes contagious. On the 5th day after the disease, rotavirus is especially dangerous for others. It is easily transmitted by airborne droplets, dirty hands, toys, doorknobs, and more. It is easy to get intestinal flu through food that the person has come into contact with. If you drink unboiled water, there is also a chance of infection, because even chlorine does not kill pathogens of intestinal flu.

First signs and symptoms

After contact with a carrier of the virus, signs of rotavirus infection in children develop within 13-95 hours (the period depends on the body's ability to keep the virus). There are several different scenarios for the development of intestinal flu. In the first case, the baby complains about:

• sore throat;
• dry cough;
• runny nose;
• conjunctivitis.

In the second case, you can find the following symptoms:

• nausea;
• diarrhea;
• signs of poisoning;
• gastroenteritis;
• pain in the abdomen.

Another variant of the course of the disease is typical for young children:

• the child is lethargic or, conversely, capricious;
• refuses to eat;
• draws his legs to the tummy.

The incubation period of rotavirus infection

After infection, rotavirus infection lives in the body for several days, and turns into an acute form later. How long the incubation period lasts in children depends on the characteristics of the organism. usually it is 1-5 days. At this time, virus particles actively multiply and accumulate. Children who are ill may not complain and feel normal. However, by the end of the incubation period, weakness, nausea, diarrhea and temperature 38 in the child will appear.

To avoid complications and speed up recovery, parents can start treating their children's rotavirus infection at this stage. To do this, it is worth strengthening nutrition, giving the sick baby vitamins and minerals. However, it is worth noting that this period for parents may go unnoticed due to the absence of symptoms, therefore, preventive measures will not be superfluous if an outbreak of intestinal flu is observed in kindergarten or a healthy baby has had contact with infected children.

How and how to treat rotavirus in children

There is no specific treatment for intestinal flu. Therapy is aimed at eliminating symptoms. Diet is very important for rotavirus infection, because the baby needs strength to fight the disease. In addition, the doctor will prescribe medications: antispasmodics, immunotropic, antipyretic. It is very important to take antibiotics for children to destroy the virus particles.

How to treat rotavirus infection:

1. The appointment of antibacterial suppositories: Viferon or Lipferon. The dose should be calculated taking into account the patient's age, the course of admission is from 5 days.
2. Fighting dehydration or rehydration. The patient is provided with an abundant warm drink that can replenish lost fluid and maintain normal kidney function. They begin to give liquid from a teaspoon, gradually increasing the volume. For this, special solutions (Oralit, Regidron, Humana), chamomile decoction, boiled water, rice water, unsweetened dried fruit compote are suitable.
3. To cleanse the body of toxins, take White Charcoal or Smecta.
4. To reduce body temperature, you can take Nurofen syrup, children's paracetamol or Cefekon suppositories.
5. It is recommended to wipe the sick baby with a solution of sodium chloride (1 part of water, 1 part of salt). This will protect him from seizures against a background of high body temperature.
6. If the baby has a stomach ache, then they give No-shpa, probiotic Lacidophil, Riobal.

How to feed a child with rotavirus infection:

• rice porridge;
• mashed potatoes;
• bananas;
• cracker, bagels;
• babies are switched to lactose-free formula;
• exclude dairy products, sauces, fried, fatty, vegetable and meat additives.

Possible complications and consequences

Intestinal flu, if not properly treated, leads to many complications:

1. Dehydration, which can be fatal. To prevent this, you need to promptly start soldering the baby or go to the hospital, where they will prescribe a dropper.
2. Acetonemic state of the baby. At the same time, ketone bodies accumulate in the patient's body, which negatively affect the brain. This complication provokes a lack of carbohydrates, which are consumed in the course of the disease.
3. Convulsions can develop on the basis of high temperatures. To prevent them, the baby's body is constantly cooled, rubbed with a saline solution.

Prevention of rotavirus

To avoid contracting rotavirus infection, good hygiene is recommended. In addition, the younger family members need to be fed only with fresh, cooked food. Moisten the air in the children's room, constantly ventilate the rooms in the house. If someone in the family has a cold, then limit the baby's contact with him. There are intestinal flu shots that are optional (not part of the vaccination plan). This method is especially effective for babies under 2 years old.

Video: how gastric flu is transmitted and proceeds in children - Komarovsky

Attention! The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials of the article do not call for self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can diagnose and give recommendations for treatment, based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

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Rotavirus, which causes the corresponding infectious lesion, is transmitted mainly by the oral-fecal route, most often through affected surfaces, dirty hands, things, food. At the same time, only about 100 particles are required to start the disease, while the average concentrations of infected localizations contain from several thousand to hundreds of millions of virions per 1 cubic centimeter.

According to global medical statistics, about 25-30 million cases of rotavirus infection are officially registered annually, with an average mortality rate of 2.5-4 percent due to the lack of qualified medical care in specific territories. According to the generally accepted calculation theory, almost every inhabitant of the planet at least 1 time during its existence was infected with the above-described pathogenic agent, mainly of the A.

Although the symptoms of rotavirus infection are quite pronounced, they are often confused with the manifestations of classical poisoning, influenza and other diseases.

Signs of pathology are formed as the main pathogenesis of infection develops and are clearly cyclical. Regardless of the route of entry of virions, they replicate mainly in the intestine, infecting enterocytes and leading to negative changes in the epithelium of the organ. Diarrhea caused by rotavirus with parallel disintegration of intestinal cells leads to malabsorption, transient deficiency, and the secreted toxins irritate chloride channels and reduce the activity of disaccharidases in the membrane structures of microvilli, thus disrupting the reabsorption of fluids and activating the secretory reflexes of the enteric nervous system.

Primary manifestations

• Severe vomiting. Sometimes unstoppable;
• High temperature, reaching 40-41 degrees. Poorly confused with classic NSAIDs;
• Diarrhea. Loose stools have a gray-yellow or light shade with a clay-like consistency;
• Frequent desires for little need. The urine is deep or dark in color, sometimes with bloody flakes;
• General loss of strength and almost complete disappearance of appetite;
• Runny nose, pain when swallowing, redness of the throat. They are formed in a significant part of cases, as a result of which rotavirus infection is often confused with acute respiratory viral infections / influenza at an early stage or oral poisoning.

After the formation of the above-described symptom complex, the acute phase of the disease continues, taking on average from 3 days to 1 week. In the absence of qualified first aid and proper supportive drug therapy, a person quickly develops symptoms of secondary problems and complications, in particular:

• Dehydration. Dehydration of the body occurs as a result of the rapid loss of a large amount of fluid against the background of metabolic disorders;
• Enteritis / Gastroenteritis. The formation of an inflammatory process in the stomach and small intestine with rotavirus infection is acute and complements the main clinical picture of the disease;
• Lactase deficiency. The secondary form of insufficiency arises as a consequence of blocking the production of enzymes, usually secreted by enterocytes into the intestinal lumen;
• Cardiovascular disorders. They are caused by general intoxication of the body and are manifested by tachycardia, an increase in blood pressure and other negative reactions.

Timely and correct diagnosis of rotavirus infection allows for faster and better treatment of the victim.

Rotavirus test

Modern medicine can detect rotavirus in several ways.

• Classic laboratory research. It is necessary to collect working material, which, in the laboratory, is examined by electron microscopy or PCR diagnostics. In the first case, the laboratory assistant monitors the sample under a special microscope, in the second, a polymerase chain reaction (one of the approaches of experimental molecular biology) is organized in relation to the VP6 antigen;
• Express test. Most pharmacies sell strips for a quick home diagnosis of an illness. The test contains antigens to the A-type pathogenic agent, the most common form of rotavirus. The strip is immersed in the feces and in case of a positive result, the aforementioned reovirus is detected with a 90 percent probability.

How to distinguish rotavirus from poisoning?

Rotavirus at the initial acute stage of the manifestation of primary symptoms is often confused with poisoning. At the same time, even doctors, in particular therapists, who do not have the necessary experience or who are delaying with a full diagnosis of the patient, can make mistakes.

Indeed, the external manifestations of intoxication in both pathological cases are very similar - these are systemic dyspeptic disorders, fever, tachycardia with an increase in blood pressure, changes in the consistency and nature of urine with feces. In the classical medical literature, when carrying out the first differential diagnosis, it is recommended to pay attention to symptoms such as sore throat, severe lacrimation, cough, redness of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract - they are formed during oral penetration of rotavirus infection into the body, followed by the multiplication of virions already in the intestine.

However, it should be borne in mind that it is possible to distinguish between poisoning and rotavirus damage only if the former has the character of food intoxication or an overdose of certain drugs. In case of poisoning with organophosphorus compounds, heavy metals, cumulative poisons of a cauterizing effect, the symptoms of the acute period can be identical, especially if we are not talking about toxicity in vapors (where the bronchopulmonary system suffers first of all), but about the direct oral route of pathogen penetration.

Based on the above arguments, it can be argued that it is guaranteed to distinguish between rotavirus infection and poisoning in 100 percent of cases only after receiving the results of analyzes - classical PCR and microscopy, or by an express method.

Incubation period

As modern clinical studies show, the process of rotavirus infection is triggered by a single ingestion of 100 or more virions. The main route is the oral-fecal route.

The base incubation period of the disease ranges from 1 to 5 days, and precautionary manifestations may include sore throat and sore throat, cough and other manifestations often associated with a cold or SARS.

The general reactive period for the development of rotavirus infection lasts from 3 days to 1 week. In especially severe cases - up to 14 days. The post-reactive phase proceeds quickly and, in the absence of complications, ends in 4–5 days.

Treatment

There is no specific therapy or effective antidote for rotavirus infection at the present stage of medical development. Classic antiviral agents, both universal and highly specialized, do not have any tangible effect on a pathological agent of this type. The main tasks of complex treatment for the above-described infectious lesions are the fight against possible complications, the neutralization of symptoms and the maintenance of the basic vital parameters of the body, including the water-electrolyte balance.

Depending on the severity of the patient's condition, home, laboratory or inpatient treatment is possible. In severe cases, the patient is immediately placed in the intensive care unit.

Basic actions may include:

• Gastric lavage. It is rational to use only at the earliest stage of the acute period of the disease, as well as with the manifestation of secondary signs of gastroenteritis. To carry out this procedure, it is necessary to use ordinary clean water in the amount of 1.5 liters and any available sorbent (preferably in a crushed form, the dosage for food poisoning). The specified amount of liquid is drunk in 1 sitting, and after a few minutes, artificial vomiting is induced;
• Oral administration of rehydration solutions. The optimal scheme is Regidron every 4 hours + an abundant intake of liquid or mineral water (Borjomi) to restore fluid and electrolyte losses;
• The introduction of fluid through a nasogastric tube. It is used in a hospital setting, supplemented with classic glucose droppers;
• Symptomatic treatment. Antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drugs, antispasmodics, antiemetic and antidiarrheal drugs can be used. In some severe cases, corticosteroids and other groups of drugs. Symptomatic therapy and other types of treatment are prescribed exclusively by a specialized specialist;
• Immunity inducers and vitamin and mineral complexes. In some cases, it is rational to use immune modulators, vitamin and mineral complexes are prescribed as a supplement, restoring serious losses of nutrients;
• Probiotics and prebiotics. They are effective in the post-reactive stage of rotavirus infection, when it is necessary to restore and protect the balance of the beneficial microflora of the intestine affected by the virus. Prebiotics are fermented by the intestinal microflora and stimulate the growth of beneficial microorganisms. Probiotics contain beneficial microcultures that, when applied to the prebiotic environment, induce the restoration of the intestinal microflora. Typical representatives of these groups are Hilak Forte, Linex, Lactobacterin.

The most important factor in curing a person from rotavirus infection, along with conservative therapy, is a properly selected diet in the acute and post-reactive periods of the disease. Its basis is a strict diet, as well as the complete exclusion of any dairy products until recovery.

In the first days of infection with rotavirus, a person, in addition to general weakness, also suffers from a lack of appetite. In case of severe intoxication, accompanied by severe dehydration of the body and powerful dyspeptic disorders, regular food intake will be replaced by intravenous injections of the necessary substances (in particular glucose).

After the basic stabilization of the patient's condition, he is recommended to use only light mono-cereal cereals in the water, as well as apple compote, gradually expanding the diet. The basic principles of the diet in the combined reactive and post-reactive phases of the acute course of rotavirus infection:

• Limitation of any thermal, mechanical and chemical irritation of the gastrointestinal tract;
• The maximum possible minimization of the consumption of fats and complex carbohydrates (to the lower required physiological threshold) with the normalization of the protein content in the diet. A typical daily regimen is 100 grams of protein, 70 grams of fat (mostly vegetable), 250 grams of carbohydrates (mostly simple), 6 grams of salt. The total daily weight of food is about 2.5 kilograms. Calorie content - no more than 2 thousand Kcal per day;
• Increased fluid intake. As a supplement to rehydration procedures, it is advisable to consume from 1.5 to 2 liters of free liquid (water, jelly, compote, rosehip decoction, weak tea);
• Diet - fractional, in small portions, but 5-6 times a day;
• Cooking dishes - mainly by boiling, less often by steaming or baking. Ingredients must be mashed. The temperature range of finished products before serving is from 20 to 50 degrees Celsius.

All types of fish and meat of high fat content, any fried foods, sauces, tomatoes, marinades, pickles, baked goods, fresh bread, all baked goods, seasonings, fruits (only baked apples are allowed), honey, jam and vegetables are excluded from the diet. Sugar is substantially limited. Sweet, sour, spicy, salty foods, semi-finished products, coffee, carbonated drinks, fast food are not allowed.

It is allowed to eat crackers, light hated poultry broths, slimy soups (made from rice), mashed porridge, meat patties, steamed veal meatballs, lean boiled fish, jelly, jelly, individual berries - blueberries, black currants and cherries (all in a small quantity). Liquids - tea, weak lemon juice, rosehip broth and jelly.

Recovery of bowel function

As the reactive period of rotavirus infection progresses, other foods in small quantities are gradually included in the diet (usually vegetables, then fruits and everything else), and a complete ban is observed until recovery only for dairy products and deliberately harmful food in the form of fast food, fried and fatty meat, oils based on refractory fats, too salty, spicy and sour dishes, as well as muffins, puffs, cakes and other very sweet products, especially those based on yeast.

For a complete restoration of the intestinal function, it is necessary to adhere to fractional nutrition for some time, cook by cooking, steaming and baking, and also take prebiotics and probiotics as a supplement (for example, Hilak and Linex, respectively).

Key preventive measures include:

• A full range of measures to ensure general sanitary hygiene. These include the use of exclusively boiled and clean water for direct use or for cooking, regular airing of premises, frequent wet cleaning with disinfection, etc.
• Isolation of a patient with clear signs of rotavirus infection;
• Washing hands with soap and water before eating;
• Providing with individual cutlery, brushes, towels, bed linen, etc .;
• Obligatory heat treatment of fruits, vegetables and berries with their preliminary washing under boiled warm water;
• Compliance with all norms of personal hygiene, especially after visiting the restroom, coming from the street;
• Refusal to eat street food - pies, shawarma and so on.

Rotavirus vaccine

Vaccinations are one of the methods of effective prevention of the potential threat of rotavirus infection. For the first time, they have been introduced into wide circulation since 2011. At the moment, 2 such medicines are available in Russia - these are Rotarix and Rotatek. Unfortunately, they are used exclusively in pediatric practice, respectively, studies on their effect on the adult's body are completely absent, therefore, doctors do not recommend using such drugs.

Rotavirus infection can bring many problems to the patient, however, following the recommendations below, you can minimize them:

• Prevention is a major factor in potential resistance to rotavirus. Even if a person has had this infection earlier, then he is not immune from re-infection. Observe the rules of general and personal hygiene, do not eat raw and street food, observe temperature conditions when washing and preparing food;
• Do not delay the visit to the doctor. You can also get sick with rotavirus at home, observing bed rest, conservative therapy, and other measures, however, it is in any case necessary to contact a specialized specialist with a problem, at least to monitor your own health and minimize the development of complications;
• Water and rehydration as the primary means of dealing with serious consequences. It is the rapid dehydration of the body that is considered the most dangerous consequence of rotavirus infection. A prerequisite for recovery is increased use of fluids and rehydration solutions. Everything else in the typical course of the disease is secondary.

Rotavirus infection: symptoms, treatment, prevention.

Rotavirus infection- a disease whose symptoms are very similar to indigestion. Rotavirus infection is contagious and most commonly affects preschool children, but adults can also get sick.

Signs and symptoms of rotavirus intestinal infection in adults

The name rotavirus comes from the word "Rota"(from English "wheel"). Relationship to the word "mouth" the origin of the name does not have.

Rotaviruses are transmitted by the fecal-oral route. You can get infected not only by airborne droplets, but also by many others. ways:

1. Through contaminated food
2. On hand contact
3. Through dirty water

Rotaviruses infect the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract.

Rotavirus in adults

In the early days of illness, they are expressed as follows:

• Elevated temperature
• Frequent gagging
• Diarrhea
• Rumbling in the stomach

In addition, rotavirus infection is accompanied by pain, sore throat, and mild runny nose.

It is possible to assume infection with rotavirus by observing the stool: on the first day, the stool is liquid yellow, the next day, it is grayish with a clay-like consistency.

An infection can be diagnosed by testing stool for antibodies to the virus.

Rotavirus infection

Important: Children aged 2 to 6 years are usually susceptible to rotavirus infection. Illness in adults often passes under the guise of food poisoning - the symptoms of the two diseases are very similar. However, unlike food poisoning, rotavirus is contagious.

It is worth noting that the immunity of adults is able to resist the disease more staunchly than children's immunity. Therefore, quite often rotavirus infection in adults is mild.

How long is the incubation period in adults with rotavirus infection?

If one family member is sick, it is likely that other family members will soon become infected with rotavirus infection. The disease is divided into three stages:

1. Incubation period (3-5 days)
2. Acute stage (about 5 days, sometimes 7 days)
3. Recovery stage (4-5 days)

Rotavirus infection symptoms

How many days is rotavirus contagious in adults through contact with a sick person?

Important: You can get infected with rotavirus even before a person develops acute symptoms of the disease. In general, a rotavirus carrier poses a threat to others for 10 days.

Particularly dangerous is the period of the acute stage, when the patient has vomiting and loose stools.

It is advisable to isolate infants and pregnant women from the sick. If you still have to contact a patient, follow the rules:

• A patient with rotavirus should use individual utensils
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, the patient should also wash their hands and face frequently

Tablets, drugs for the treatment of rotavirus infection in adults at home

There is no specific treatment regimen for rotavirus. There is no point in taking antiviral drugs and antibiotics. However, it is necessary rehydration therapy and sorbent intake(smecta, activated carbon, enterosgel).

Rehydration therapy consists of drinking plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration during diarrhea. Saline solutions, unsweetened compotes, herbal teas - this drink is suitable for the treatment of rotavirus disease.

Rotavirus treatment

How to treat rotavirus infection in adults with folk remedies?

With simple components on hand, you can prepare solutions for the treatment of rotavirus infection.

• For cooking saline solution mix 1 tsp. salt, 5 tsp. sugar in 1 liter of boiled water. Take the solution throughout the day.
• You can also do soda solution... Take the same amount of water, salt and sugar as in the previous recipe and add 1 tbsp. baking soda.
• Decoctions of chamomile, St. John's wort, marsh calamus relieve inflammation of the intestinal walls and help restore water balance. Mixtures of herbs can be bought at the pharmacy, they are very inexpensive.
• It works well for diarrhea infusion of pomegranate peel... Just pour a glass of boiling water over the peel, leave for half an hour and drink a little.

Alternative treatments for rotavirus

Nutrition for adults with rotavirus infection

If you have rotavirus infection, it is important to adhere to strict diet.

First of all, you need to exclude:

• Dairy products, milk porridge
• Fatty, spicy, salty
• Sweets
• Carbonated drinks
• Raw vegetables or fruits

It is allowed to eat such food:

• Vegetable soups
• Rice and semolina porridge on the water
• Rusks or stale brown bread
• Compotes
• Herbal teas
• Boiled (or steamed) fish and lean meat
• Light broth
• Mashed potatoes can be introduced during the recovery stage

It is difficult to follow a diet, you will have to give up many familiar foods, nevertheless, a diet is the only way to a speedy recovery.

Vaccination against rotavirus infections for adults

The vaccine is a reliable method for preventing rotavirus infection. You should know that:

1. Rotavirus vaccine consists of live, attenuated virus strains (given orally)
2. Vaccination can be done for both adults and children
3. The vaccine should be done in 2 doses, then it will protect the body from the attack of rotaviruses
4. The vaccine has been found to remain effective when given at the same time as other vaccines (such as DPT)
5. The rotavirus vaccine will protect the body for several years, there is no lifelong immunity.

Important: The vaccine should not be given to those who had a severe allergic reaction at the first dose, as well as to people with immunodeficiency syndrome. Vaccination of people with intestinal malformations and chronic gastrointestinal diseases is questionable (the final decision is made with the doctor). It is also contraindicated to be vaccinated during the acute stage of the disease.

Vaccine for rotavirus infection

What are the complications of rotavirus infection in adults?

Rotavirus is generally tolerated without side effects or complications. In the case of the correct drinking and nutritional regimen within 10 days, the patient recovers without consequences.

The most dangerous in the development of infection is dehydration. In some cases, dehydration can be fatal.

It is also necessary to control body temperature. It is not worth bringing down the temperature to 38º if the patient tolerates it normally. It is at this temperature that the body destroys harmful viruses. However, if the temperature goes over the 39 ° mark, it is necessary to take an antipyretic, since such a temperature carries a load on the cardiovascular system.

Prevention of rotavirus infections in adults upon contact with a patient: drugs

It is advisable to avoid contact with a person who has contracted rotavirus infection. Visits to the patient in this case are inappropriate.

There are no drugs to prevent rotavirus. The only thing you can do is wash your hands, face more often, use separate dishes, if contact cannot be avoided. Although these measures will not give one hundred percent guarantee of protection.

If a person once had a rotavirus, this does not mean that he will not get sick again. Lifetime immunity to these pathogens is not developed, re-infection is possible.

Video: How to deal with rotavirus infection?

Rotavirus is a pathological pathogen that leads to the development of foodborne toxic infection. This violation belongs to the group of diarrhea caused by the multiplication of viruses in the human body. The disease occurs in people of all age groups, but is most often diagnosed in patients of preschool and primary school age. Rotavirus is carried by about 75% of children from 6 months to 5 years old and only 15-20% of adults. The disease manifests itself as symptoms of enteritis or gastroenteritis, and often manifestations of a respiratory infection are noted in patients.

Attention! Rotavirus infection is highly contagious, that is, the ability to quickly transmit from an infected person to a healthy person. In addition, the disease is characterized by a short incubation period and an acute course.

Rotavirus infection leads to the development of a viral form of gastroenteritis in the patient. This condition is also called intestinal flu. Pathology occurs due to the entry of the pathogen into the patient's body. Rotavirus gastroenteritis is characterized by high contagiousness, a short latency period and an acute course.

Attention! Contagiousness is the property of microorganisms and viruses to be transmitted from an infected person or animal to a healthy one. Diseases that can be transmitted by contact or everyday life, including intestinal flu, are characterized by a high level of contagiousness.

Rotavirus gastroenteritis is an acute infection that affects the gastrointestinal tract. Pathology is accompanied by characteristic symptoms: diarrhea, hyperthermia, signs of general poisoning of the body and damage to the upper respiratory tract. Due to the specific clinical picture, the infection is also called small cholera.

Most often, the disorder is detected in patients of an early age - up to 5-7 years. This is due to the insufficient development of protective mechanisms in the child's body. In adults, intestinal flu is detected much less frequently, and its clinical picture is usually more blurred. In children, this disease can cause serious complications and even lead to the death of the patient, while older people in some cases do not even notice the infectious process taking place in their body.

In adults, rotavirus gastroenteritis is most often accompanied by the characteristic symptoms of minor digestive upset: frequent bowel movements, abdominal discomfort, and decreased appetite. However, how strongly the symptoms of the disease will manifest itself depends largely on the individual characteristics of the patient's health status.

A person infected with intestinal flu poses a threat to others from the moment the initial signs of infection appear and remains contagious for the next 2-8 days.

The reasons for the development of pathology

The causative agent of this pathology belongs to the genus Rotavirus. To date, there are 9 main types of the virus, six of which are dangerous to humans. It should be noted that these infectious agents can remain viable in the external environment for a sufficiently long period of time, including in feces, unboiled water, food, etc.

People already infected with the virus pose an epidemic danger. They remain contagious for 4-5 to 20-30 days after infection. Rotaviruses can be transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person in several ways:

• fecal-oral;
• contact and household;
• airborne;
• alimentary;
• aquatic.

Although infants and children in the first two years of life are most susceptible to the disease, adults can also become infected with rotavirus. The risk group includes employees of preschool institutions and schools, doctors.

A person who has the first symptoms of the disease should, if possible, be isolated from others in order to avoid the spread of infection. In this case, rotavirus should be distinguished from pathologies similar in symptomatology.

Characteristics of viral gastroenteritis

Features of the course of the disease in adults

The gastric juice of an adult is more chemically active and has a destructive effect on viruses and bacteria that enter the digestive tract. Due to these factors, older patients are much less likely to develop intestinal flu than children. In addition, even in the case of infection, the pathological process proceeds much easier and rarely leads to the development of complications.

However, it should be borne in mind that there is a certain category of patients who are quite difficult to tolerate rotavirus infection. This group includes:

• people with diseases of the digestive tract;
• patients who have recently undergone surgery or therapy with cytostatics;
• patients over the age of 60-65;
• people with depressed or weak immunity, including those with HIV infection.

Attention! If the above patients are infected with rotavirus, it is necessary to ensure that they are carefully monitored by a doctor. If any symptoms appear that indicate a worsening of the condition, the patient should be immediately admitted to a hospital.

Video - Rotavirus

Symptoms of Rotavirus in Adults

Clinical manifestations of intestinal flu in patients occur after the end of the incubation period. It lasts on average about two days, but it can also be from 10 to 120 hours. The disease manifests itself acutely, the severity of symptoms reaches a maximum on average one day after infection and persists for about three days.

If the pathology proceeds typically, then about the second day after infection, the patient begins vomiting and diarrhea, then the body temperature rises. Often, this condition is accompanied by respiratory symptoms: nasal flow, pain in the pharynx, swelling of the tissues of the pharynx, sneezing. Due to a sharp deterioration in health, the patient experiences constant fatigue, lack of appetite and drowsiness.

In most cases, the sick have the following symptoms:

• weakness, lethargy;
• bouts of profuse uncontrolled vomiting;
• severe pain in the umbilical region;
• diarrhea: frequent loose, clayey or creamy, beige or yellowish stools;
• respiratory symptoms;
• hyperemia of the sclera;
• hyperthermia, fever, chills;
• refusal to eat;
• the appearance of a whitish coating on the tongue;
• flatulence, bloating, rumbling.

Attention! In some cases, patients develop atypical symptoms of intestinal flu: hypertension, intense cephalalgia and dizziness, tremors of the upper extremities, hyperemia of the skin of the face and neck. If these disorders appear, you must urgently consult a doctor, otherwise there is a high risk of complications.

In some adult patients, the disease is atypical. At the same time, their diarrhea is replaced by constipation, the pain syndrome radiates to the lower back and the epigastric region, there are frequent urges to urinate.

Diarrhea

The most characteristic manifestation of rotavirus infection is dyspepsia and acute disturbance of the digestive processes: diarrhea, vomiting and nausea, excessive gas formation. The increase in stool begins on the first or second day from the onset of infection and reaches 8-15 times during the day. With a mild form of the disease, feces have a creamy consistency and the urge to defecate bothers the patient about 4-5 times a day.

The severe course of the pathology leads to the development of constant bouts of diarrhea. The feces in this case have a watery or frothy character, a sharp sour or rotten smell and are distinguished by a yellowish or yellow-green color.

Attention! Sometimes bowel flu stools resemble cholera stools: they are cloudy, whitish, thin, or contain faeces.

Diarrhea is accompanied by quite intense abdominal cramps. Moreover, the pain syndrome changes its localization depending on the movement of feces along the intestinal tract. Excessive bowel movements, reaching 10 times a day or more, can lead to dehydration, that is, dehydration. This condition poses a serious health hazard to the patient. In elderly and senile people, such a violation leads to a strong decrease in body weight, deterioration of the cardiovascular system and seizures.

With diarrhea, the patient needs to drink clean water or rice water, which has a fixing effect. Also, the patient is advised to take sorbents, for example, activated carbon to remove toxins from the body.

Hyperthermia

In adult patients, hyperthermia and fever with rotavirus gastroenteritis occurs in about 50% of cases. The body temperature rises to 38-39 ° C. This state can persist for 48-72 hours.

Usually, hyperthermia is accompanied by the so-called respiratory syndrome, which is characterized by the following symptoms:

• hyperthermia of the mucous membranes of the pharynx and oral cavity;
• swelling of the soft palate and tonsils;
• rhinitis with clear or yellowish-green mucus;
• a sore throat;
• pharyngitis is an acute inflammation of the back of the throat.

A strong increase in body temperature, coupled with general intoxication of the body, leads to short-term dysfunction of the urinary system. In laboratory diagnostics, the patient has cylindruria and albuminuria.

Attention! Cylindruria is a pathology in which casts of proteins formed in the lumen of the renal tubules accumulate in the urine. Albuminuria is the excretion of protein with urine.

Temperatures below 38-38.5 ° C should not be reduced with medication. The patient is advised to drink more fluids, for example, warm tea with lemon or various berry fruit drinks. With severe hyperthermia, the patient is prescribed antipyretics: Efferalgan, Panadol, Paracetamol, etc.

Exicosis

Exicosis or dehydration is a condition of acute dehydration that usually occurs as a result of gastrointestinal or respiratory diseases. In the course of the development of this pathology, the patient has a deficiency of water and electrolytes, which is formed due to multiple bouts of vomiting and diarrhea.

Exicosis usually appears 2-3 days after the onset of intestinal flu. Usually, with rotavirus infection, patients have isotonic dehydration due to equal losses of fluid and salts. A person in this state is lethargic, inactive, sleepy. He has a number of symptoms characteristic of dehydration:

• frequent vomiting;
• lack of appetite;
• decreased skin tone and elasticity;
• pallor of the skin;
• dryness and atonicity of the mucous membranes;
• the appearance of a whitish or grayish coating on the root of the tongue;
• muffled heart sounds;
• low blood pressure.

There are three degrees of dehydration, depending on the amount of lost fluid:

1. The first degree of severity. Dehydration does not exceed 5% of the total body weight.
2. Second degree of severity. Fluid deficiency is up to 10% of the patient's weight. A similar condition threatens with a disorder of the activity of the heart and blood vessels.
3. The third degree of severity. The lack of moisture in the body at this stage exceeds 10%. In this case, the patient develops serious disorders of hemodynamics, kidney function and digestive system.

Attention! If the loss of fluid exceeds 18-19% of the total body weight, there is a high probability of death. A patient in this condition should be in the intensive care unit under the constant supervision of doctors.

When combating exicosis in patients with rotavirus infection, the main therapeutic measures should be aimed at restoring the body's water balance. The doctor determines the method of treatment depending on the stage of development of dehydration. In most cases, patients with intestinal flu have first-degree dehydration. To normalize the patient's condition, a glucose-saline solution is prescribed at the rate of 50-90 ml per 1 kg of weight: Regidron, Oralit, etc. After relief of exicosis, the patient's diuresis is restored, vomiting stops, and his health improves.

General intoxication

Intoxication of the body - occurs due to prolonged exposure to the human body of various harmful substances. This condition is accompanied by characteristic symptoms:

• violation of the neuropsychic state;
• cephalalgia, dizziness;
• fever, chills;
• myalgia and arthralgia;
• weakness, drowsiness;
• pain in the eyeballs;
• decreased appetite.

Sorbents help to reduce the harmful effect of rotavirus on the body. Patients are prescribed Smecta and Enterosgel. In severe pathology, it is necessary to drip a colloidal solution with glucose.

Often with intestinal flu, the patient also develops a secondary bacterial infection caused by a general weakening of the protective functions of the body. In this case, treatment with antibacterial drugs is carried out: Enterofuril, Furazolidone, etc.

Soreness in the abdomen

Pain syndrome with rotavirus is localized in the umbilical region and epigastrium. The pain is episodic spasmodic in nature and intensifies after eating or immediately before bowel movements.

Unpleasant sensations may be accompanied by increased nausea or vomiting, headache, severe weakness. On palpation of the abdomen during a painful attack, bloating, noises and splashing are noted. The muscles of the abdominal wall are tense, the patient has a rapid pulse, while the skin is pale and moist. To reduce pain, the patient takes forced postures: lying on his side or sitting, pressing his hands to his stomach.

To relieve pain during intestinal flu, adults are prescribed drugs with an antispasmodic and analgesic effect: No-shpu, Drotaverin, Papaverin, etc.

Video - Rotavirus infection

Complications of rotavirus gastroenteritis

In adult patients, rotavirus infection is usually fairly easy and does not lead to complications. However, in older people or those with weakened immune systems, this disease can have a number of consequences:

• the development of a secondary infectious process caused by bacteria or fungi;
• severe dehydration;
• dysfunction of the urinary and cardiovascular system.

In addition, the lack of correctly selected therapy causes an imbalance of the intestinal microflora and the development of dysbiosis, which only aggravates the course of a viral infection.

Rotavirus poses the greatest danger to women during gestation. The pathogen causes rapid dehydration, which can be detrimental to the fetus. In this case, spasms of the muscles of the intestinal tract and flatulence cause a reflex contraction of the myometrium due to the general system of innervation. This disorder can lead to a threat of miscarriage.

Patients during pregnancy must carefully observe sanitary and hygienic standards, eat only thermally processed foods, washed vegetables and fruits. If infection with rotavirus has occurred, the woman is shown urgent hospitalization and therapy aimed at maintaining a normal water and electrolyte balance in the body.

Rotavirus gastroenteritis is an infectious disease that causes disturbances in the work of the gastrointestinal tract. In adult patients, it usually manifests itself as a short-term disorder of the stool, nausea and a general deterioration in well-being. So that the pathology does not lead to the development of complications, it is necessary to consult a doctor and carefully follow his recommendations.