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Rotavirus

is an
infectious
virus that
is the
common
cause of
severe
diarrhoea
in infants
and young
children.1

May 2015

Source taken from http://www.cdc.gov/features/rotavirus/

Rotavirus Severe Diarrhoea in


Transmission
Infants
It caused
10,000 hospitalisation
and 22,000
Emergency visits in
children under 5 years
of age in Australia
every year.2

coughing and sneezing


may also spread the
virus by mucous
membrane contact.6

Diagnosis

Gastroenteritis.
Rotavirus is a viral
infection that affects and
damages epithelial cells
of the small intestine
resulting in
gastroenteritis. It causes
symptoms such as
vomiting and diarrhoea.3
Rotavirus is a genus of a
group of dsRNA virus
within the family of
Reoviridae.4 They are
divided into serological
groups A to E, in which
groups A to C are
infectious to humans.

Rotavirus A is the
most common which
causes more than
90% of rotavirus
infections in
humans.3

Source taken from


http://www.123rf.com/photo_17811
638_contagious-virus-infectionwith-children-hands-holding-andtouching-spreading-dangerousinfectious-g.html

Rotavirus may spread


through the faeces of
someone infected. This
virus could spread from
one person to another if
the viruses are
transferred to objects,
food and surfaces if the
infected person doesnt
wash their hands after
going to the toilet. Child
carers can also spread
the virus if they do not
wash their hands after
changing diapers.5
Rotavirus can quickly
spread and outbreaks
can occur due to their
resistance to most
disinfectants.1
Infected airborne
droplets produced by

According to the
Department of Health,
Rotavirus can be
detected through an
Antigen Detection Tests
and Nucleic Acid
Detection Tests. Rapid
detection can be
accomplished by testing
stool specimens for the
presence of rotavirus.7

Antigen Detection
Test commercial kits
such as Enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay
(ELISA) are available to
detect antigen against
Group A rotavirus from
stool samples. It can
detect the virus within
minutes and is sensitive,
specific, and
inexpensive.8 ELISA has
a solid phase consists of
polystyrene plate is
treated with a solution of
antigens.9 Liquid is
poured and plate is
washed. An unrelated
protein-based solution is

registered in Australia
are Rotarix and RotaTeq.
The doses are given in
three doses at 2, 4, and
6 months of age.14
Rotavirus can also be
prevented by thoroughly
washing your hands
using disinfectant after
going to the toilet, and
before eating.7

Significance

poured to cover all


unbound sites on the
plate. Liquid is then
removed and plate is
again washed. Enzymeconjugated antigen
binds specifically to the
target antigen. Liquid is
once again removed and
washed. Substrate is
added and the signal
produced by the
enzyme-substrate
reaction is measured.10
The colour developed is
then read with a plate
reader.11

Nucleic Acid
Detection Test
(NADT) - detects
rotavirus A only. They
are highly sensitive and
specific but could also
detect the virus in the
person carrying the virus
but is not experiencing
any symptoms.
Therefore, the positive
results of rotavirus by
NADT must be
interpreted taking into
account the medical
history of the patient.12

Treatment
Rotavirus has no specific
treatment. However,
preventing dehydration

is the main concern.


Hydration is the most
effective way to treat
rotavirus. Oral
rehydration fluid (such
as Pedialyte) are used to
replace the salt, glucose,
minerals and nutrients
that the child loses from
diarrhoea or vomiting.13
Severe dehydration may
require intravenous fluid
replacement to fix
electrolyte imbalances.

Prevention

Before the introduction


of the vaccines
worldwide, about
450,000 children
worldwide died each
year from rotavirus,
especially those who
lived in developing
countries. It causes
nearly 2 million
hospitalisations each
year worldwide.
Once the virus is
contracted, the
immunity develops with
each infection and
subsequent infections
are less severe. It is
highly contagious, so it
is important to keep an
infected person isolated
from other children until
they have recovered.
References

Source taken from

1 National Foundation for Infectious


Diseases. 2005. Frequently Asked
Questions About Rotavirus. Retrieved
on April 27, 2015 from

Source taken from http://udel.edu/~jenwar/rotavirus.epi.pic.html


http://www.specialtypharmajournal.
com/medical-news/vaccines-andimmunizations/2989-rotavirusvaccines-could-save-over-24million-lives-

Rotavirus can be
prevented through
vaccinations. They are
able to prevent about
74% of the cases and
96% of hospitalisations.
The two vaccines

www.nfid.org/idinfo/rotavirus/faqs.html
2 Better Health Channel. 2015.
Rotavirus. Retrieved on April 27, 2015
from
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhc
v2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Rotavirus
3 Ramig R. 2004. Pathogenesis of
Intestinal and Systemic Rotavirus
Infection. Journal of Virology 78(19):
10213-10220.
4 Baron S., 1996, Medical Microbiology
(4th Edition), University of Texas
Medical Branch at Galveston
5 National Health Service. 2014.
Gastroenteritis in Children. Retrieved
on April 30, 2015 from
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Rotaviru
s-

gastroenteritis/Pages/Introduction.asp
x
6 South Australia Health. 2012.
Rotavirus Infection Symptoms,
Treatment and Prevention. Retrieved
on April 30, 2015 from
http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wc
m/connect/public+content/sa+health
+internet/health+topics/health+condi
tions+prevention+and+treatment/infe
ctious+diseases/rotavirus+infection
7 Medical News Today. 2014. What is
Rotavirus Gastroenteritis? What
causes Rotavirus Gastroenteritis?
Retrieved on April 30, 2015 from
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/arti
cles/177104.php

8 Standard Diagnostics. 2015. SD


Bioline Rotavirus. Retrieved on April
27, 2015 from
http://www.standardia.com/en/home/p
roduct/rapid/infectiousdisease/Rotavirus_Ag.html
9 IDEXX Laboratories. 2013. Elisa
Technical Guide. Retrieved on April 28,
2015 from
https://www.idexx.com/pdf/en_us/lives
tock-poultry/elisa-technical-guide.pdf
10 Evans A,. 1989, Viral Infections of
Humans: Epidemiology and Control
(3rd Edition), Plenum Publishing
Corporation, NY, 10013
11 Vet Dx. 2015. Elisa Technology.
Retrieved on April 30, 2015 on

http://www.vfad.com.my/elisa/
12 The Department of Health. 2013.
Rotavirus Laboratory Case Definition.
Retrieved on April 28, 2015 from
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/mai
n/publishing.nsf/Content/cda-phlncdrotavirus.htm
13 Livestrong. 2015. What Ingredients
are in Pedialyte? Retrieved on April
May 2, 2015 from
http://www.livestrong.com/article/3458
95-what-ingredients-are-in-pedialyte/
14 Queensland Government Health.
2012. Rotavirus. Retrieved on April 30,
2015 from
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/cdcg/ind
ex/rotavirus.asp

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