This hour, if talking about the Rota virus Very few people would not know. Because now is spreading heavily Many people have to add to each other to follow, which even earlier appeared to be common in young children. But did you know that “adults” are at-risk groups that shouldn’t be overlooked! We come to listen to this story from Dr. Romyen Sakthongcheen, a specialist in infectious diseases at Phayathai Hospital Nawamin.
We believe that only a few people would not know a disease called “Rotavirus” since now it becomes an outbreak that spreads widely in the nation many people admitted to hospitals; earlier it seems to affect only kids, on the other hand, the disease also impacts on adult heavily…why does this happen? Let us find out all answers given by our Infectious Disease Specialist from Phyathai Nawamin Hospital, Dr. Romyen Sakthongjeen.
How well you know about “Rotavirus”??
Rotavirus is a type of virus that is infectious and contagious causing inflammation in the stomach and intestines. Patients will have severe diarrhea with frequent vomiting, high fever, and abdominal pain; although it can easily be found in small kids especially in those who are younger than 2 years old. According to the condition, this can lead the kids to severe dehydration which required to be sent to a hospital immediately regarding the risk of death. For an adult, it is also possible to be infected by the disease but symptoms are not as harmful as in the small kids only certain people will react to the symptoms severely.
Cold weather…the supportive factor for Rotavirus
The virus grows well and withstands to be in a dry- cold environment, therefore, its infection mostly starts in cold weather also places where people are crowded such as school and tourist spots; the outbreak transmits through various channels such as while eating contaminated food or drinking unclean water including touching the one with the disease. The infection will start growing at the intestinal wall later inflammation of the wall will block itself from food absorption causing acute diarrhea. The virus will also spread to others via defecation or stool which we called “Fecal-oral route”
Why The disease is contagious?
If the patient is someone who has diarrhea and ignores washing his/her hands properly after those hands touch on any object on a table, people who carry stuff handled by him/her will infected by the disease while having food (disease transmitted orally); an incident can easily occur when a few types of bacteria spread the virus rapidly as mentioned, this virus is stable in environment and can live up for 1 hour in our hands which is why it is considered very contagious
Why Rotavirus symptoms shown in adults are rare?
In general, the disease can commonly happen to people of all ages for adults, symptoms are rarely seen or affect the patients, for example, light intermittent diarrhea which helps doctors inspect the disease moreover, the light symptom of diarrhea could make the adult seems like not having the disease.
Warning Signs (Severe diarrhea and dehydration)
Infected symptoms usually appear about 1-6 days after the disease entering the body. Patients will have diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, fever, abdominal pain including fatigue however later they will disappear with no complications. In case of having severe condition patients will have intensive diarrhea around 10-20 times a day he/she will not be able to drink or eat this considered as a cause of dehydration and shock; it is also a reason why many organs functions are failed such as kidney (kidney failure) heart (arrhythmia). Damaged organs can lead a person to death especially small kids or those having chronic disease or having immune deficiency.
Treatment given closely
At present, there is no specific antiviral drugs made for treating this virus remedy method therefore must be palliative care with mineral supplement for patients with mild symptoms ROS mineral, diet food and painkillers will be given; in addition, patients who have nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea are risk for shock, low blood pressure and death so we recommend them to reach a hospital immediately to receive infusion and close care.
Rotavirus Prevention
“The best way of prevention is to closely pay attention to your personal hygienic care :eating hot cooked food, using serving spoons and washing hands before and after meals to reduce chances of infection from many diseases; hand washing should be done around 15-20 minuites to clean up germs and dirt on the hands. In addition Rotavirus is resistable to Hand sanitizer or alcohol gel since it is in a group of non- enveloped virus”
“Another way of prevention is to avoid drinking unclean water, always clean your vegetables and fruit before eating by washing, cooking food properly and for those having children or someone with vomiting and diarrhea symptoms when their stool or poke is on any area of a house, do not forget to clean up using unused or piece of clothes wipe out the area and wrap it before putting in a plastic bag and throw it into a bin. Furthermore, in order to control its spreading patients should stop cooking and for children they should stop going to school as well ;both must avoid travelling until fully recovered”