Rotavirus: Not for the Weak of Stomach

The rotavirus, belonging to the Reoviridae family, consists of seven major groups - three that are known to affect human beings (referred to as groups A, B, and C). Group A is the most common and also the most widespread - crossing nations and oceans. The rotavirus causes vomiting and diarrhea, and has killed approximately 600,000 children every year in developing countries.

Rotaviruses manipulate the gastrointestinal epithelial cells. The triple protein coat allows them to be resistant to the pH of the stomach and its acids, as well as the digestive enzymes present in that part of the body. As the rotavirus infects the human, it continues to replicate over and over again to produce more of itself.

This virus causes acute gastroenteritis, which involves vomiting and diarrhea along with an inflammatory infection of the colon, or a noninflammatory infection the upper small bowel. Other names associated with this disease are "infantile diarrhea", "winter diarrhea", "stomach flu", "acute nonbacterial infectious gastroenteritis", and "acute viral gastroenteritis".

The infection lasts up to 10 days and is self-limiting, from mild to severe. It is characterized by vomiting, watery diarrhea, and fever. A person with the virus can contaminate various number of things because they excrete large amounts of the virus through bodily functions. The virus can be acquired through contaminated hands, objects, or utensils.

The incubation period of the virus is between 1-3 days. Vomiting is normally the first symptom, with diarrhea starting afterward for approximately 4-8 days. Recovery is complete unless the infected person does not replace their fluids and electrolytes. If they do not do this, it can result in death due to the loss of both through the severe diarrhea. Mortality of children in the United States is relatively low, coming in at about 100 cases per year. But worldwide, it is a much bigger problem.