{"id":7170,"date":"2017-06-26T12:00:39","date_gmt":"2017-06-26T02:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mvec.vic.edu.au\/?page_id=278"},"modified":"2024-05-17T10:42:57","modified_gmt":"2024-05-17T00:42:57","slug":"virus-rota","status":"publish","type":"references","link":"https:\/\/mvec.mcri.edu.au\/vi\/references\/rotavirus\/","title":{"rendered":"Rotavirus"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n

What is it?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Rotaviruses belong to the genus <\/span>Rotavirus<\/span><\/i> (in the family <\/span>Reoviridae<\/span><\/i>) which comprises eight species, referred to as A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H. Group A rotaviruses are responsible for most rotavirus infections in humans, although people have also been infected with groups B and C. Like in influenza viruses, the structure of rotaviruses enables them to mutate rapidly to produce new strains.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rotavirus infections are the leading cause of dehydrating gastroenteritis in young children.<\/span><\/p>\n

What to look for<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Rotavirus disease can present with a spectrum of symptoms, from asymptomatic or mild infection to severe disease. Clinical signs can include:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • fever<\/span><\/li>\n
  • vomiting<\/span><\/li>\n
  • abdominal pain<\/span><\/li>\n
  • watery diarrhoea.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Severe cases, if left untreated, can result in significant dehydration leading to electrolyte imbalance, hypotensive shock and death.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The incubation period for developing disease is usually between 24 and 72 hours. The diarrhoea usually lasts from 3 to 7 days.<\/span><\/p>\n

    How is it transmitted?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Rotaviruses are mainly transmitted through the faecal\u2013oral route, through close person-to-person contact, contaminated food and water, and via fomites (e.g. toys and other surfaces contaminated by faeces). Rotaviruses are also transmitted through respiratory droplets (e.g. through coughing, sneezing, talking). Spread is common in families, hospitals and childcare settings.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Viral replication occurs in the villous epithelium of the small intestine.\u00a0 The virus can be transmitted during the acute illness. Excretion for more than 30 days has been reported to occur.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Asymptomatic infected individuals can transmit the virus unknowingly.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Epidemiology<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Worldwide, rotaviruses are the most common cause of dehydrating diarrhoea among children under 5 years of age. <\/span>Despite the availability of a vaccine, rotavirus continues to result in over 200,000 deaths per year. D<\/span>eaths due to rotavirus are rare in Australia due to access to health care services. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Rotavirus vaccines were added to the Australian National Immunisation Program (NIP) in 2007. Since then, there has been an estimated 64% decrease in hospitalisations for children aged under 3 years, and case numbers have fallen. In 2022, notification rates were lowest in Tasmania (at 11 per 100,000) and highest in the Northern Territory and Queensland (at 47 per 100,000).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Compared with their non-Indigenous peers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants and children are hospitalised with rotavirus gastroenteritis about 3 to 5 times more often, and are younger at age of hospitalisation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Without vaccination, most children will experience at least one rotavirus infection before the age of 3 years. Repeated infections can occur.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    In temperate areas of Australia infections are more common in the winter months. However, in the tropical\/arid regions of Australia there is no seasonal pattern.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Prevention<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Rotavirus spread can be mitigated through:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • effective hand hygiene measures<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    • effective decontamination of fomites<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    • vaccination.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Vaccines<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Vaccination is approximately 88% effective in preventing rotavirus infection. There are 2 vaccines registered for use in Australia:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      • Rotarix<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Rotateq.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Both rotavirus vaccines are live-attenuated vaccines requiring oral administration (by mouth). A 2-dose course of Rotarix is currently provided on the NIP at 6 weeks and 4 months of age. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        There is limited data on the safety and efficacy of rotavirus vaccination when given outside of specific age groups. For this reason, rotavirus vaccines must be administered within the recommended timeframe, with particular attention paid to the upper age limits. If adherence to the recommended timeframes for administration is not possible, vaccination should be withheld indefinitely.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        Infants who receive a first dose of either vaccine should complete the entire course of vaccination using the same oral rotavirus vaccine. However, if an infant inadvertently received one of each, give a 3rd dose of either rotavirus vaccine. The upper age limits and minimum intervals between doses must still be met.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t

        \n\t\t
        \n\t\t\t