​What is gastroenteritis?

        It is a range of diseases of the stomach and intestine. They may include diarrhea, with   or without blood in the stool, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, headache, muscle ache and fever.

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Which microbes cause gastroenteritis?

• Several microbes cause disease of the stomach and intestines including viruses (e.g., rotavirus, norovirus, adenovirus), bacteria (vibrio cholera, Escherichia coli or E.coli, Shigella, Yersinia, Salmonella) and parasites (Cryptosporidium, Giardia intestinalis and Entamoeba histolytica)

 

• Here, let's discuss the disease caused by the virus, Rotavirus. The Rotavirus disease is characterized by fever, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain.

 

How do we get infected with Rotavirus?

• Rotavirus is transmitted by eating contaminated food via what is called fecal-oral contamination (Contaminated hands, food to mouth).

 

• The virus is stable on environmental surfaces (e.g., floor, walls, tables, doors, door knobs, utensils, medical equipments in hospitals, items in the toilet, etc.)

 

• Rotavirus is the most common cause of childhood viral disease of the stomach and intestines.

 

How do we prevent Rotavirus infection in children?

• There are a couple of vaccines used in the United Stated,  Rotarix and RotaTeq. 

 

Is there a drug or treatment for Rotavirus infection?

• For now, there are no available drugs. The treatment focuses on managing symptoms and preventing dehydration in children.