Intestinal influenza is an infectious disease of viral etiology that affects the gastrointestinal tract. The causative agents are mainly rotaviruses. The name " The correct name is rotavirus infection, according to Pannochka, an online publication for girls and women from 14 to 35 years old.. net Some similarity with the clinical picture of respiratory disease, most likely, was the reason for the name of the rotavirus infection "

The disease is ubiquitous and occurs in all groups of the population, but it is more susceptible to it in children, people with weakened immunity and the elderly.. Intestinal influenza in children is one of the most common causes of diarrhea, accounting for 20% of all cases of severe diarrhea in infants and about 5% of all deaths in children under five. According to some reports, almost all children under the age of five suffer from this disease.. The incidence rises in winter.

Causes and risk factors Rotaviruses are a genus of viruses of the Reoviridae family that have fragmented double-stranded RNA. Of the nine known rotavirus species, humans can become infected with species A, B and C. Rotavirus A causes up to 90% of all intestinal flu cases. The virion diameter is 65-75 nm. The genome of the virus contains 11 fragments surrounded by a three-layer protein coat (capsid), which makes the virus resistant to the acidic contents of the stomach and intestinal enzymes. The infectious agent is quite stable in the external environment (freely tolerates low temperatures and heating up to 60 ° C).

Replication of rotaviruses in the body occurs mainly in the enterocytes of the villi of the small intestine, which leads to the death of the latter and subsequent structural and functional changes in the epithelium.. The virus enters the cell by direct penetration through the cell membrane or by endocytosis. Due to the disruption of the digestive process and the accumulation of disaccharides, a large amount of water and electrolytes enters the intestinal lumen, which leads to the development of severe diarrhea and dehydration.

The infectious agent enters the human body through the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract. The most common route of transmission of the intestinal flu virus is alimentary (eating unwashed vegetables and fruits, meat and dairy products of dubious quality, etc.. Infection by airborne droplets and contact is also possible..

The first signs of intestinal flu are severe nausea, repeated vomiting, rumbling in the stomach, diarrhea.

Risk factors include immunodeficiency states and poor personal hygiene.. Intestinal influenza occurs both sporadically and in epidemic outbreaks. Foci of infection often occur in children's groups, especially in preschool institutions, in children hospitalized for another reason (nosocomial infection), as well as in nursing homes.

Forms of the disease Intestinal flu can have a typical (proceeds like gastritis, gastroenteritis, enteritis) and atypical (erased, subclinical course); mild, moderate, or severe course. Depending on the characteristics of the clinical picture, the disease can be acute, protracted, complicated..

Stages of the disease In its development, rotavirus infection goes through three stages:.

Incubation period.

II. Acute period.

III. Reconvalescence.

Symptoms of intestinal flu Incubation period of intestinal flu, t. the time from the moment of penetration of the pathogen into the body and to the first pronounced clinical manifestations is from one to five days. The pathological process is developing rapidly. The first signs of intestinal flu are severe nausea, repeated vomiting, rumbling in the abdomen, diarrhea (stool is liquid, frothy, without mucus or blood, with an unpleasant, pungent odor), stomach cramps, pain in the upper abdomen or abdominal pain that is not clearly localized. The general condition suffers significantly: the body temperature rises to 38-39? C, she is accompanied by general weakness, lethargy, headache, aching muscles and joints, complete lack of appetite. In some cases, there is a dry cough, a slight runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, pain when swallowing, hyperemia of the posterior pharyngeal wall, uvula and palatine arches. Some similarity with the clinical picture of a respiratory disease, most likely, was the reason for the name of rotavirus infection " A few days after the onset of the disease, feces acquire a gray-yellow color and a clay-like consistency..

The prognosis is generally favorable.. There are no long-term consequences of the transferred disease.

Often, patients with intestinal flu develop intolerance to milk and dairy products (secondary lactase deficiency). In severe cases of the disease, there are signs of dehydration, attacks of dizziness, impaired consciousness.

The general condition of the patient usually returns to normal within a week, but for another month he is a source of infection and, as such, is a danger to others.

Intestinal flu in adult patients has the same manifestations as in children, however, they may be less pronounced, and in some cases (especially in the elderly) the disease is asymptomatic. However, even with an asymptomatic course, an infected person is a potential source of infection..

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