Rotavirus infection natural history, complications and prognosis

Rotavirus infection is a self-limited disease. It may lead in some cases to dehydration and it is one of the important complications that may occur following the infection. Seizures are also a complication of the rotavirus infection. The disease prognosis is good.

Rotavirus gastroenteritis is a self-limiting, mild to severe disease characterized by vomiting, watery diarrhea, and low-grade fever. The infective dose is presumed to be 10-100 infectious viral particles. Because a person with rotavirus diarrhea often excretes large numbers of virus (10⁸-10¹⁰ infectious particles/ml of feces), infection doses can be readily acquired through contaminated hands, objects, or utensils. Asymptomatic rotavirus excretion has been well documented and may play a role in perpetuating endemic disease.^[1]

The incubation period ranges from 1-3 days. Symptoms often start with vomiting followed by 4-8 days of diarrhea. Temporary lactose intolerance may occur. Recovery is usually complete. However, severe diarrhea without fluid and electrolyte replacement may result in death. Childhood mortality caused by rotavirus is relatively low in the U.S., with an estimated 100 cases/year, but reaches over 500,000 cases/year worldwide (as of 2005). Association with other enteric pathogens may play a role in the severity of the disease.

Clinically, the most severe disease occurs in children under two years of age.

Repeated rotavirus infections may increase the risk of celiac disease in genetically susceptible children. Complications of the rotavirus infection in severe cases include the following:

• Dehydration
• Seizures

Rotavirus infection prognosis is good as the disease is self limited.