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rotavirus enteritis
Epidemiology:
- most common cause of severe diarrhea among infants & young children
- by the age of 5, nearly every child in the world has been infected with rotavirus at least once
- immunity develops with infection & subsequent infections, if symptomatic, are less severe
- adults are rarely affected
- December through May in US, year round in developing countries
- begins in Southwest, spreads to Northeast
Clinical manifestations:
- anorexia
- low-grade fever
- watery diarrhea
- vomiting
- abdominal cramps
Laboratory:
- rotavirus RNA
- electron microscopy
- viral culture
Complications:
- dehydration
- death
Management:
- rehydration:
- oral rehydration therapy may be attempted if child is cooperative
- intravenous hydration if oral hydration insufficient
- intravenous access may be difficult in volume-contracted child
- prevention:
- rotovirus vaccine (RotaTeq or Rotarix)
Related
Rotavirus
General
viral enteritis
References
- Wikipedia: Rotavirus enteritis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotavirus_enteritis
- Medscape: Rotavirus
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/803885-overview