Acute gastroenteritis (gastroenteritis) caused by rotavirus (ICD-10 A08.0: enteritis caused by rotavirus) is an infectious disease of the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract; (RV gastroenteritis, RVGE).
Rotaviruses belong to the Reoviridae family. Seven serogroups can be distinguished (A-G), with rotaviruses of serogroup A being the most important worldwide.
The Reoviridae family belongs to the list of arboviruses transmissible to humans by arthropods (arthropods).
Rotaviruses are frequent causative agents of gastroenteritis (gastrointestinal infections). In children, they are the most common cause of viral intestinal infections.
The disease belongs to the viral zoonoses (animal diseases).
The main reservoir of the virus is humans. Rotaviruses occurring in domestic and farm animals play only a minor role in human disease.
The rotavirus is highly contagious!
Seasonal accumulation of the disease: Rotavirus infections occur more frequently in the months of February to April.
The transmission of the pathogen (infection route) is fecal-oral (infections in which pathogens excreted with the feces (fecal) are absorbed through the mouth (oral)) by smear infection, but can also occur through contaminated food and contaminated water.
Human-to-human transmission: Yes.
The incubation period (time from infection to onset of disease) is usually 1-3 days.
Duration of illness is usually 2-6 days.
Sex ratio: In childhood, boys are affected slightly more often than girls. In adolescence and adulthood, however, women are affected more often than men.
Frequency peak: The disease occurs predominantly between the 6th month of life and the 2nd year of life. Another age peak is observed after the age of 60.
The incidence (frequency of new cases) is approximately 67 cases per 100,000 population per year.
The duration of infectivity (contagiousness) usually persists until 8 days after the end of symptoms.
Rotavirus infection leaves a serotype-specific immunity that does not last.
Course and prognosis: Particularly in infants and young children, there is a risk of dehydration (lack of fluids) due to diarrhea and vomiting. Often, inpatient treatment (administration of infusions) becomes necessary.
Vaccination: a protective vaccination against rotavirus is available. Rotavirus vaccination is a regular vaccination (standard vaccination), i.e. all infants from the 6th week of life should be vaccinated.
In Germany, direct or indirect detection of the pathogen is reportable by name according to the Infection Protection Act (IfSG) if the evidence indicates an acute infection.
