Rotavirus infections in families. A clinical and virological study.
Among 25 family members of 8 children with acute rotavirus gastroenteritis (8 siblings and 17 adults) gastroenteritis was recorded in 9 (5 siblings and 4 adults), and minor symptoms in 8 (2 siblings and 6 adults). A rotavirus infection was diagnosed in 7 of the family members with gastroenteritis and was probably the cause of the disease in the remaining 2 in this group. Four of the 8 family members with minor symptoms were infected with rotavirus, whereas no infection was detected among the 8 family members without symptoms. Serological findings sugggested that infants and young children underwent a primary infection with rotavirus, whereas older children and adults probably were reinfected. Adults as well as children with rotavirus infection excreted virus and may have served as sources of infection.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000235:genetics*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral