Viral Gastroenteritis Flashcards
How does one normally acquire viral gastroenteritis and what is the normal incubation period?
Faecal-oral route.
24 hours.
Name four causes of gastroenteritis.
Rotavirus.
Adenovirus.
Astrovirus.
Noroviruses.
Symptoms of viral gastroenteritis? Duration?
Emesis.
Diarrhoea (secretory)
Self-limiting and lasts 2-3 days.
Outline the pathogenesis of viral gastroenteritis.
Enterocytes of upper small bowel effected > inflammation and transient blunting of villi
What kind of antibodies confer immunity against viral gastroenteritis.
IgA (mucosal surfaces)
Which two surface proteins is protective immunity directed towards regarding rotavirus?
G (VP7)
P (VP4)
Why can people suffer repeated infections with rotavirus?
There are numerous antigenic ally different G and P subtypes.
Repeated infections tend to be less severe.
Feature of the rotavirus genome and why is this of importance?
Segmented genome:
- therefore reassortment of different rotaviruses can occur
How is immunity protective against severe rotavirus illness.
Infection is followed by partial immunity:
- immunity is cross-protective therefore severe disease usually only seen in first exposure
When are children most vulnerable to severe disease by rotavirus?
During first year of life.
Maternal antibody may ameliorate disease severity in neonatal period.
Name the two types of rotavirus vaccines and what kind of vaccine are they?
Rotarix
Rotateq
*oral live attenuated
Features of the rotarix vaccine?
Live attenuated monovalent vaccine derived from human rotavirus.
Induces broadly cross-reacting immunity to many rotavirus serotypes.
Features of the rotateq vaccine?
Pentavalent human and bovine rotavirus re assortment vaccine.
Bovine rotavirus + 4 commonest G protein serotypes + commonest P serotype in human viruses.
Do the rotavirus vaccines prevent viral gastroenteritis?
Person may still become sick, but less severe disease.
Which rotavirus vaccine is administered in SA and when?
Infants: 10/14 weeks (2 doses).
