About Rotavirus Disease
Rotavirus is a virus that infects the bowel of children and causes diarrhea. It is the most common cause for infant and child diarrhea around the world. Rotavirus causes children to become severely ill, and many are hospitalized due to dehydration. Most children have had the rotavirus before they reach the age of five.
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Signs and Symptoms
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The rotavirus begins with a high fever, nausea and vomiting. Soon abdominal cramping and diarrhea occur. The watery diarrhea episodes can be frequent or happen only a few times a day.
Dehydration
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Dehydration is the biggest complication with rotavirus. Signs that a child is dehydrated are severe thirst, lethargy, dry skin, sunken eyes, dry mouth, poor skin turgor (elasticity) and an inability to produce urine. Severe dehydration can lead to death. All cases of dehydration should be evaluated and treated by medical professionals.
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Contagiousness
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Rotavirus is most common in the spring and winter months and is highly contagious. It is usually transferred by children or caregivers who do not properly wash their hands after using the bathroom or changing a diaper. The rotavirus can be spread before the child shows symptoms and after symptoms begin.
Prevention
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A vaccine is available to stop the spread of rotavirus. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the rotavirus vaccine should be administered with other routine vaccines. The vaccine is given as several oral doses before an infant is eight months old. Rotavirus has the ability to live on hard surfaces for several days, so good hand washing before eating is also helpful in preventing the spread of the virus.
Diagnosis and Treatment
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Rotavirus is diagnosed by taking a stool sample and examining it under the microscope. Treating rotavirus requires managing the symptoms. Fluids are encouraged to prevent dehydration. Some children may require hospitalization to receive intravenous fluids to treat dehydration if oral fluid intake is inadequate. Because rotavirus is a virus, antibiotics do not help speed the healing process with a rotavirus infection.
Home Treatment
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At home, fluids should be offered frequently. Fruit juices should not be given because fruit juice may increase the chance of diarrhea. If mild dehydration occurs, a fluid replacement such as Pedialyte should be given in small intervals. If vomiting is not severe, small meals can be given. The virus needs to leave the body so do not attempt to stop the diarrhea with antidiarrhea medications.
Duration
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The typical course of rotavirus runs from three to nine days and will resolve itself.
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