ROTAVIRUS

Rotavirus is a double-stranded RNA virus of the family Reoviridae. Rotavirus is recognized as the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in infants and young children. The virus enters the body through the mouth. Viral replication occurs in the villous epithelium of the small intestine. Infection may result in decreased intestinal absorption of sodium, glucose, and water, and decreased levels of intestinal lactase, alkaline phosphatase, and sucrase activity, and may lead to isotonic diarrhea.

The incubation period for rotavirus diarrhea is 1–3 days. The clinical manifestations of infection vary and depend on whether it is the first infection or reinfection. Infection may be asymptomatic, may cause self-limited watery diarrhea, or may result in severe dehydrating diarrhea with fever and vomiting.

The clinical features and stool characteristics of rotavirus diarrhea are nonspecific, and similar illness may be caused by other pathogens. As a result, confirmation of a diarrheal illness as rotavirus requires laboratory testing.

Rotavirus infection in infants and young children can lead to severe diarrhea, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and metabolic acidosis. Immunodeficient children may have more severe or persistent disease and may have evidence of abnormalities in multiple organ systems, particularly the kidney and liver.

Rotaviruses are shed in high concentration in the stool of infected persons. Transmission is by fecal-oral spread, both through close person-to-person contact and by fomites (such as toys and other environmental surfaces contaminated by stool). Rotaviruses are also probably transmitted by other modes such as fecally contaminated food and water and respiratory droplets.