Did your doctor say you got stomach flu?

11-05-2011

Rotavirus

The most leading cause of viral gastroenteritis is  rotavirus. It derives its name from its wheel like (rota) appearance. Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide. Rotavirus causes gastroenteritis with severe watery diarrhea, often with vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain. In babies and young children, it can lead to loss of body fluids. Globally, it causes more than a half a million deaths each year in children younger than 5 years of age. Prior to the  introduction of vaccine in  2006, almost all children experienced rotavirus infection the United States.

The virus is spread by contaminated food, beverages and personal contacts. Rotavirus has been found in areas of hand-washing, food-preparation and on diaper-disposal containers, diaper-changing surfaces, and toys.  Rotavirus is hardy pathogen resistant to inactivation by a number of common disinfectants.  Best way to prevent rotavirus infection is vaccination and good handwasing to dislodge the virus from hands.

Norovirus

Norovirus derives its name from the location (Norwalk, Ohio,USA) where it was first isolated in 1968. It represents a group of viruses often referred to as caliciviruses. This group includes viruses often referred to as saporovirus or calicivirus. Norovirus has been often associated with gastroenteritis on cruise ships.
 Norovirus causes acute gastroenteritis with diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain in humans. These are highly contagious viral agents and as few as 10 virus particle can initiate an infection.  Because immunity lasts about a few months and very strain specific, an individual may repeatedly get norovirus infection.
The infection can spread from person to person contact and through contaminated food  water, and surfaces. Norovirus can infect people of all age groups. The virus infects 26 million people in the U.S. each year. In normal persons the infection is not serious and lasts one to two days. However young children, elderly and immune compromised people are more seriously affected with the need for hospitalization. Norovirusis estimated to cause over 70,000 hospitalizations and more than 500 deaths annually in the United States. The CDC estimates that in the United States it causes more illnesses than all other viruses, bacteria and parasites combined. The virus can survive freezing, heating as high as 60C and 10 ppm of chlorine bleach treatment. Chlorine bleach concentration as high as 1000-5000 ppm is recommended for disinfection.

Astrovirus

These are small round viruses and get their name from star-like (astro) appearance . These viruses infect both animals (chickens, pigs, dolphins, mink, bats, sea lion, cat and other) and humans. They cause gastroenteritis predominantly in young children below 5 years of age. By the age between 5-10 years, 80% of children  have had the infection.  The adult population is not commonly infected. The virus is spread through fecal oral route and person to person contact. It is estimated the rate of infection in children is only next to that of rotavirus. Best prevention is through good hygiene and thorough hand washing