A doctor spoke about the dangers of rotavirus

Rotavirus is a dangerous disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract and causes severe dehydration, said Alexander Umnov, a lecturer at the Department of Fundamental Medical Disciplines of the Medical Faculty of the State University of Education and a surgeon. He told Izvestia on November 29 about the peculiarities of the disease.

"The most frequent ways of transmission of the virus are considered contact and fecal-oral. The patient becomes infected with the virus when it enters the body with unwashed food, water from an obscure place, by touching an object touched with dirty hands by a sick person who releases viruses to the outside," the doctor specified.

Umnov added that theoretically one person can infect a large enough group if they do not observe hygiene. The disease develops quickly - symptoms appear in three days - and lasts about five to seven days.

"The patient may be bothered by a mild fever, as well as diarrhea (six times a day) and vomiting (three times a day). The patient also experiences weakness, dizziness. The main danger is the loss of fluid with feces and vomit. In a special risk group - young children, since their immune and digestive systems are not yet perfect. Lethal outcome is possible with the loss of a large volume of fluid (more than 10 liters), without medication correction", - explained Umnov.

Earlier, on November 28, Vladimir Neronov, MD, infectious disease doctor of JSC "Medicine" (clinic of Academician Roitberg) told "Izvestia" that both children and adults can get measles, and the latter can suffer from severe complications. According to him, the complications may include pneumonia, encephalitis, hepatitis and other serious pathologies, some of which may even be fatal.