Question

The watery diarrhea caused by rotavirus is due to ________.

1) the killing of the intestinal cells
2) Rupturing of the intestinal wall
3) Your body protecting itself from stomach acid spilling into the intestines
4) Fistulas
5) Lymph fluid leaking

Answer 1

The watery diarrhea caused by rotavirus is due to an increase in osmotic pressure in the lumen of the intestine.

Step-by-step explanation:

The watery diarrhea caused by rotavirus is due to increase in osmotic pressure in the lumen of the intestine. Rotaviruses are double-stranded RNA viruses that primarily spread through the fecal-oral route. Once inside the intestines, the virus attaches to epithelial cells and releases a toxin that increases cyclic AMP levels, activating a chloride channel. This results in the release of ions into the intestinal lumen, causing an osmotic pressure increase and water entering the lumen, leading to watery diarrhea.