Bodnariuk O. Pediatric Rotavirus infection: clinical features, pathogenesis and new treatment strategies

In this dissertation, we improved the treatment of rotavirus infection (RVI) in children based on our data about clinical and immunologic parameters. We investigated general (serum Ig A, M, G) and local (sIg A in saliva and stool filtrates) immunity in children with RVI and developed the predictors of prolonged recovery and delayed pathogen elimination. We advanced the understanding of disease pathogenesis by studying activity of alkaline phosphatase in serum and fecal filtrates depending on the degree of severity and patient's age, and proved that this reflects the level of metabolic derangements. Correlation analysis of relation between the different parameters of humoral immunity and alkaline phosphatase activity enabled us to determine the biomarkers of disease severity. We proved clinically and immunologically the effectivity of the use of Saccharomyces Boulardii (Enterol) in the initial therapy of patients with RVI.