[Click! Health] Our Child Showing Symptoms of Acute Diarrhea... "Beware of Rotavirus"

Winter and spring, frequently occurring in infants and young children with weak immunity
Can spread rapidly through group activities
Virus causative agents should be identified through screening tests

As the number of infants and young children complaining of diarrhea symptoms increases mainly during winter and spring, advice has been issued to be cautious of rotavirus infection, which causes these symptoms.

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According to GC Green Cross Medical Foundation, rotavirus is a type of viral enteritis, and infants and young children with weaker immune systems compared to adults are more likely to be infected. Rotavirus is mainly transmitted easily through hands and mouth, and it is known to have such a high prevalence that all children worldwide are infected at least once before the age of 5.

Acute diarrheal diseases are broadly divided into 'bacterial acute diarrhea' caused by bacteria and 'viral acute diarrhea' caused by viruses. Among viral acute diarrhea, 'rotavirus infection,' which frequently occurs in infants and young children under 5 years old, is a common disease accounting for more than half of infantile enteritis cases. The incidence rate is highest among infants aged 3 to 24 months, and it is known that all children are infected by the age of 2 to 3 years.

Rotavirus has very strong survivability and can be transmitted indirectly not only through direct contact but also through objects or food contaminated with feces and through respiratory routes. Because rotavirus is highly contagious, caution is necessary. In particular, there are many cases of rapid transmission through group living environments such as daycare centers and kindergartens.

When infected with rotavirus, symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain appear within 1 to 3 days after an incubation period of about 24 to 72 hours. Usually, cold symptoms progress to watery diarrhea without blood, accompanied by vomiting and fever. Especially if an infant or young child repeatedly vomits and has diarrhea for more than half a day, they are exposed to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance in the body, as well as severe physical and mental stress. In severe cases, it can even lead to death.

Therefore, if cases of vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or abdominal pain are found at the daycare center or kindergarten attended by an infant or young child, or if the child suddenly shows acute diarrhea symptoms, it is advisable to undergo a simple screening test at a nearby internal medicine or family medicine clinic. Additionally, GC Green Cross Medical Foundation explained that if acute diarrhea symptoms are present, it is desirable to receive appropriate treatment through an acute diarrhea screening test that can quickly and accurately identify the causative pathogen.

The viral acute diarrhea screening test can simultaneously detect multiple viruses such as rotavirus, adenovirus, and norovirus. Using multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), major viruses can be screened with just one test. Also, results can be confirmed the next day, allowing for prompt and accurate treatment.

Song Seong-wook, a specialist in diagnostic laboratory medicine at GC Green Cross Medical Foundation, said, "Now that group activities such as picnics and sports days have increased, if an infant or young child shows symptoms of acute diarrhea, it is necessary to suspect rotavirus infection," and added, "In young children, if acute diarrhea symptoms persist for more than half a day, they easily become exhausted and may suffer from severe dehydration sequelae, so we recommend visiting a nearby medical institution to undergo an acute diarrhea screening test."