References:
- Global Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Online Network: Infectious Diseases of the Philippines, 2013 eBook Edition, ISBN 978-1-61755-582-4, by Stephen Berger. Accessed here.
| Agent | VIRUS - RNA. Reoviridae: Rotavirus |
| Reservoir | Human |
| Vector | None |
| Vehicle | Fecal-oral Water |
| Incubation Period | 12 hours to 3 days |
| Diagnostic Tests | Stool assay for viral antigen Serology Nucleic acid amplification |
| Typical Adult Therapy | Stool precautions; supportive |
| Typical Pediatric Therapy | As for adult |
| Vaccine | Rotavirus Vaccine |
| Clinical Hints | Vomiting, diarrhea and mild fever: the illness lasts approximately 1 week, and is most severe in infancy; fatal cases are associated with dehydration and electrolyte imbalance |
| Synonyms | Rotavirus |
Infants and young children present with fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and occasionally dehydration.
- Most hospitalized patients had experienced fever and vomiting for 2 to 3 days, and diarrhea for 4 to 5 days.
- The diarrhea is watery without blood or mucus.
- Leukocytes are detected in the stool in a small percentage of patients.
- Approximately 36% of episodes are characterized by ‘dehydrating diarrhea.’
- Viremia is present in over 50% of patients with Rotavirus diarrhea.
- Asymptomatic infection is common.
Infection in immunodeficient children may persist for weeks to months.
Rotavirus infection is not unusual in adults.
Complications
- Rotavirus infection increases the risk of bacteremia in children with nontyphoid Salmonella gastroenteritis
- Rare instances of toxic megacolon have been reported.
- Although intestinal intussusception may occur in some cases, a causal role for Rotavirus infection (i.e., as opposed to Rotavirus vaccine) is not established.
- Central nervous system dysfunction may complicate Rotavirus infection, in the form of seizures, cerebellitis, encephalopathy and death.
- Some reports have linked Rotavirus infections with instances of aseptic meningitis, necrotizing enterocolitis, myositis, liver abscess, pancreatitis, pneumonia, Kawasaki’s disease, acute hemorrhagic edema, sudden infant death syndrome and Crohn’s disease.