Reovirus infection in children: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Reovirus infection is an acute disease accompanied by catarrh of the upper respiratory tract and often a lesion of the small intestine. In this regard, the viruses are called respiratory enteric orphan viruses (respiratory-intestinal human viruses - REO viruses).

Epidemiology

Reovirus infection is widespread in all regions of the globe. The source of infection is a sick person and virus carriers. It is not excluded the possibility of infection from animals, in which pathogens are widespread and excreted with feces.

The main route of transmission is airborne, but a fecal-oral route of infection is also possible. Diseases occur in the form of sporadic cases and epidemic outbreaks, mainly in children's groups. Children are more often ill at the age of 6 months to 3-5 years. Almost all children get rheovirus infection, as indicated by the detection of specific antibodies in most people by the age of 25-30.

Causes of reovirus infection

In the family of reoviruses are 3 genera. Practical significance is of two kinds: actually reoviruses and rotaviruses.

Reoviruses contain double-stranded RNA, the virion has a diameter of 70-80 nm. There are 3 serovars of human reoviruses: 1,2 and 3. They have a common complement-binding and type-specific antigens. Viruses are relatively resistant to heat, ultraviolet rays and conventional disinfectants.

The virus enters the cell through endocytosis and is transported to the lysosomes, exits the cell upon its death. Reoviruses reproduce well in cell cultures of different origin. The cytopathic effect can appear in 2-3 weeks.

Pathogenesis of reovirus infection

The virus multiplies in the epithelium of the nasopharynx and intestinal mucosa. From the lymphatic follicles, the virus enters the mesenteric lymph nodes, and then through the lymphatic system into the blood. In children, reoviruses cause catarrh of the upper respiratory tract or small intestine.

Symptoms of a reovirus infection

The incubation period lasts from 1 to 7 days. The disease begins in most children sharply, with the rise in temperature. Headache, decreased appetite, cough, runny nose, may be nausea, vomiting. On examination, hyperemia of the face, injection of vessels of sclera, conjunctivitis, hyperemia of the mucous membrane of the tonsils, arches, back of the pharynx, mucous discharge from the nose are observed. Cervical lymph nodes, liver and spleen can be enlarged.

At some patients at an altitude of catarrhal phenomena there is an intestinal syndrome. Children complain of abdominal pain, rumbling along the course of the small intestine.

The disease in most cases is easy. The fever lasts from 1 to 7 days.

In young children, pneumonia, herpangina, serous meningitis, myocarditis are possible. Lethal cases among newborns and children of early age are described. In older age groups, reovirus infection often occurs in the form of erased asymptomatic forms. There are no characteristic changes in blood.

Diagnosis of reovirus infection

Without laboratory tests, it is difficult to diagnose reovirus infection. Specific diagnosis is based on the isolation of the virus from the mucus of the nasopharynx, feces, cerebrospinal fluid in the cell culture, and also on the establishment of a rise in the titer of specific antibodies in paired sera in the RTGA.

Differential diagnostics

Reovirus infection is differentiated from SARS of another etiology, enterovirus diseases, mycoplasmal infection.

Treatment of reovirus infection

Symptomatic. Antibiotics are prescribed only in the event of bacterial complications.

Prevention

Specific prophylaxis is not developed. Conventional anti-epidemic measures are conducted, as in ARVI.

[1], [2], [3], [4]