A review of Rotaviruses

Rotaviruses are the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis among children worldwide, especially in developing countries. It is estimated that they cause annually more than ۱۰۰ million cases of diarrhea worldwide. The mortality rate from rotaviruses is very low in advanced societies, but the healthcare use and its cost in these societies are still significant. The main way of virus transmission is person to person, and the consumption of contaminated food and water is next. In this infection, the symptoms of watery diarrhea and vomiting are prominent, which dehydration is the main symptom and increases infant mortality. Food contamination during preparation in the home can be an important source of transmission to children. The five key recommendations of the World Health Organization for food safety against rotavirus are hand washing and disinfection of surfaces and utensils, complete cooking, and using safe water for washing of raw materials.

Keywords:

Rotavirus , food , gastroenteritis , infection