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| Rotavirus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Two rotaviruses | |
| Virus classification | |
| Group: | Group III (dsRNA) |
| Order: | Unassigned |
| Family: | Reoviridae |
| Subfamily: | Sedoreovirinae |
| Genus: | Rotavirus |
| Type species | |
| Rotavirus A | |
| Species | |
Rotavirus A | |
Rotavirus is a virus that causes diarrhoea. Most of the time only children who are younger than five years old get the disease. The signs of the disease are severe diarrhoea and vomiting, which start suddenly and last for two or three days. Rotavirus also causes diarrhoea in animals. A vaccine, which prevents children from getting the disease is available in many countries.
Like most viruses, rotaviruses are made from RNA and protein. The RNA carries the genes that are used to make more rotaviruses. They are called rotaviruses because they sometimes look like little wheels and "rota" is the latin word for "wheel". Rotaviruses get into the body through the mouth and are not present in the air unlike the viruses that cause colds. The disease is often spread by dirty hands and things used for cooking, but the viruses can dirty water. Rotaviruses are very small. They are a lot smaller than bacteria and can only be seen using an electron microscope.
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