title: [Rotavirus gastroenteritis].
abstract: Rotavirus is the main etiological agent that causes severe diarrheal diseases in newborns and young children up to two years. Every year, about one million children around the globe die of dehydration caused by Rotaviruses. The problem is even bigger in underdeveloped and developing countries. The results of our 18-month research, in the town Kragujevac and its surrounding area from December 1998 to May 2000 indicate that viruses are an important factor in the etiology of the acute diarrheal diseases in our population. In 124 children, aged 0 to 5, with the acute diarrheal diseases treated at the Pediatric clinic HMC "Kragujevac", viruses were the causes in 27% of the time. The Rotavirus belongs to the family Reoviridae. The infections caused by rotaviruses may be detected around the world. The incidence rate is higher in developed countries. The infection is transmitted orally. The entry of the Rotavirus infection is the upper part of the small intestine. The clinical picture is specific. The disease usually lasts four to seven days. The fastest diagnostic method is direct detection of viruses using the electronic microscope. The agglutination tests ELISA and LATEX are used for the examination of numerous samples. Only symptomatic treatment is required. High morbidity and mortality rates in developing countries are the reason to prevent the Rotavirus disease by active immunization.
authors.forename: Biljana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vuletić
authors.forename: Slobodan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Obradović
authors.forename: Andjelka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stojkovic-Andjelković
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Igrutinović
authors.forename: Petar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Radlović
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy