Norovirus and Rotavirus

Question 1

What is Norovirus? Describe its structure, symptoms and transmission?

Answer 1

ssRNA , most common cause of gastroenteritis, starts with sudden onset of nausea followed by projectile vomiting and watery diarrhoea, also common are abdominal cramps, headaches, low grade fever etc but each episode short lived. Transmitted via direct contact, exposure to aerosols or faecal oral route

Question 2

How is Norovirus controlled?

Answer 2

Difficult to control but most effective prevention is hand washing. Infected person should isolate for 48 hours and in hospital when outbreak occurs 48hr closure of wards

Question 3

What family does Norovirus belong to?

Answer 3

Calciviridae

Question 4

What is Rotavirus?

Answer 4

most common cause of gastroenteritis in children, dsRNA contained in a protein capsule, symptoms include watery diarrhoea, usually with vomiting fever and abdominal cramps, transmission via faecal oral route most common, symptoms last 3-8 days

Question 5

How are strains of rotavirus classified?

Answer 5

based on their outer proteins, VP7 is G type of which there are 10 and VP4 is P type of which there are 11

Question 6

When does Rotavirus commonly occur?

Answer 6

winter and early spring

Question 7

What prevention and treatment methods are there for rotavirus?

Answer 7

vaccine given to babies at 8 and 12 weeks, no specific medication for treatment but oral rehydration therapy given and Loperamide to increase intestinal transit time

Question 8

What are some danger symptoms of rotavirus?

Answer 8

Blood in stools. Mucus in stools, symptoms of severe dehydration such as weakness, confusion and rapid heart rate