In Tamaulipas, cases of enteritis due to rotavirus increased this year and up to week 49 there is a record of 77 patients treated in clinics and hospitals of the state network, which represents an increase of 75%.
The statistics cover up to December 7, 2024, and in the same period of 2023, 44 diagnoses had been made, according to the epidemiological bulletin of the federal Ministry of Health published this Monday. Of the 77 patients this year, 40 are women and 37 men, the official information specified.
What is enteritis?
According to the health department, enteritis is the inflammation of the mucous membrane of the intestines and manifests itself with diarrhea; it occurs mainly during the cold months and can be prevented by complying with the national vaccination schedule.
It is a highly infectious disease, it mainly affects groups from 6 to 24 months of age and is transmitted from person to person by the fecal-oral route. Its clinical picture varies from asymptomatic to dehydration in different degrees, hypovolemic shock, sequelae such as chronic renal failure and death if not treated promptly.
Rotavirus diarrhea has a peak incidence during the winter months and decreases in the summer, it was explained. These types of infections are more serious than those produced by other viral agents and due to the importance of the disease, its epidemiological surveillance has been strengthened to know its behavior and impact on infant morbidity and mortality.
Among the factors that cause it are poor hand hygiene and lack of appropriate practices to prepare food; receiving or administering breast milk; fecal contamination of water and food; low birth weight; malnutrition and incomplete vaccination schedule.
Also, vitamin A deficiency; immunodeficiency or immunosuppression; using toys or sharing other contaminated utensils, and rotavirus can survive for weeks on these objects and other surfaces within the home or daycare.
In light of this, health sector authorities have insisted on the importance of getting vaccinated and complying 100% with the immunization schedule as an effective way to protect against this and other diseases.
Source: milenio
