Rotavirus, Cause and Effect
Karri walker
HCS/240 - Health & Diseases: Understanding pathos of Pathology
January 12, 2014
Michael Jones

Rotavirus, Cause and Effect
Rotavirus effect most children, before the age of five and many adults worldwide. (MayoClinic, 2013) Very few know and understand the causes and the effects of rotavirus. Rotavirus is an extremely contagious gastrointestinal virus that is spread through contaminated waters foods and uncleanly environmental circumstances.
Rotavirus is known to be the most common cause of severe diarrhea in infants and children worldwide. This virus affects the gastrointestinal system causing vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and dehydration. (MedicineNet, 2014) Rotavirus contributes to the mal-absorption of fluids through the intestinal tract causing watery diarrhea and inflammation of the bowels. Due to the quick amount of fluid loss, rotavirus also causes dehydration, pain, irritability, and causes a person to become lethargic. (MayoClinic, 2013)
Rotavirus is transmitted through contaminated sources such as, water, foods, infected stool, and improper hygiene. (MayoClinic, 2013) It is a highly contagious infectious virus. The most common way of becoming infected with the virus is the passage of stool to the mouth of another child, also called fecal-oral route of transmission. (MedicineNet, 2014) It is most common in small children because they do not wash their hands frequently before eating and after using the bathroom, and because children have a tendency of putting fingers in their mouths. The rotavirus can also be transmitted through hard-dry surfaces because a contaminated person touched that particular surface. (MedicineNet, 2014) Being in a unclean, unsanitary work or living environment can make a person more vulnerable to becoming infected with the rotavirus.
With rotavirus there really are no treatment options available. Majority doctors will tell you that this virus needs to ride its course. It is recommended that you drink plenty of rehydrating fluids and avoid certain foods. Most people with rotavirus cannot hold any fluids of foods down for the first 24-48 hours of having the virus. Some doctors often recommend a special diet of low fiber, easy digestible foods, also known as the BRAT diet. This diet consists of bananas, rice, applesauce, and tea. Some additions of tea and yogurt might be added as well. (MedicineNet, 2014) For the more extreme cases severe dehydration plays a large part of hospitalization and death, in these circumstances hospitalization for intravenous fluids is one of the best treatment options.

References
MayoClinic. (2013, March 27). Diseases & Conditions: Rotavirus. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rotavirus/basics/definition/con-20026103
MedicineNet. (2014). Rotavirus Infection. Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com/rotavirus/article.htm
Zelman, M., Tomapry, E., Raymond, J., Holdaway, P., & Mulvihill, M. (2010). Human Diseases: A Systematic Approach (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.