Rotavirus infection: symptoms and treatment

Probably every second parent knows firsthand what a rotavirus infection is. After all, it is she who most often causes diarrhea in children. How to recognize the enemy in time, how to get rid of him and how to further ensure prevention will be discussed in this article.

Causes of rotavirus infection

Rotavirus infection, aka intestinal flu, is an an infectious disease caused by rotaviruses. The disease is transmitted by the fecal-oral manner. In general, in the common people this disease is called the ailment of dirty hands, which is why it is most often diagnosed in young children who go to kindergarten, as well as in schoolchildren. However, every time, after the next infection in the victim's body, immunity to each type of bacteria is created, therefore, if the infection is repeated later, which happens very rarely, then the ailment goes away more and more easily.

Rotavirus infection can be both single and epidemic in nature. But basically, intestinal flu is a seasonal disease, and the surge in its activity occurs during the period from autumn to spring.

The incubation period of rotavirus infection

The incubation period of the infection can be different and ranges from one to five days. At the very beginning, the disease manifests itself especially sharply, but then all the symptoms decline. The disease is diagnosed by passing a number of tests, which may include: a calla lily test and a blood test.

Rotavirus infection symptoms

The primary signal of the onset of rotavirus infection is acute cramping pain in the abdomen, a feeling of general malaise, the onset of vomiting and an increase in body temperature. Opens up strong diarrhea... Unlike common digestive upset, rotavirus-infected diarrhea has a pungent sour odor and yellow color. In most patients, redness of the conjunctiva of the eyes and the mucous membrane of the throat can be noted.

Severe diarrhea increases the risk dehydration of the body, which is very dangerous and can even be fatal. Therefore, the patient must be given to drink, in small portions, but more often. Since the symptoms of rotavirus are very similar to food poisoning, salmonellosis and other dangerous diseases, it is very important to see a doctor in a timely manner in order to make an accurate diagnosis and prevent serious consequences.

How rotavirus infection is transmitted

Most cases of rotavirus infection are transmitted through food - unwashed fruits and vegetables, for example. But sometimes it is not at all necessary to eat these fruits. It is enough just to grasp them with your hands, and then get into your mouth with this hand. If the immunity is strong, the person will not notice anything, since the infection will be immediately destroyed, but if the immunity is weakened, then infection will occur.

In general, rotavirus infection can be found everywhere and even hover in the air, settle on things and household items. Therefore, as soon as one gets infected, as often happens in kindergartens, others start to get sick en masse. The danger of rotavirus is that it is very resistant and tenacious. He doesn't care about the low temperature, low humidity and other environment, which is usually destructive for most bacteria. The only thing that he cannot survive in any way is an alcohol solution, chlorine and iodine.

How long does rotavirus infection last?

The duration of the disease has no clear boundaries, and the indicator is closely related to the strength of the patient's immunity. According to average estimates, the general picture looks like this: 1-5 days - the incubation period, 3-7 days - the exacerbation period; 4-5 days recovery period. In total, from and to it takes 8-17 days.

The speed of recovery also depends on the measures that will be taken in the treatment, so it is better not to delay with it.

Rotavirus infection treatment

Despite the high prevalence of the disease, to this day, a cure for it has not yet been invented. But on the other hand, a certain treatment scheme has been developed, which allows in a short time to normalize the work of the digestive tract. The main symptom of rotavirus is diarrhea, which can lead to severe dehydration. Therefore, special attention should be paid to ensure that the patient consumes enough fluids. Special powders can also come to the rescue. For a speedy recovery, you can take the simplest activated charcoal, in the morning and evening. Taking sorbents will help stop vomiting.

To normalize the digestive system, you need to adhere to a diet. By the way, it is one of the main components of treatment. There are many drugs that will provide all possible assistance in treatment, but it is highly discouraged to engage in self-prescribing. See your doctor who will prescribe the most effective therapy for your specific case.

Rotavirus vaccine

Currently, it is possible to undergo vaccination against rotavirus infection. According to experts, parents who want to protect their children from such a problem should worry about this in advance and deliver the first vaccine as soon as the baby reaches six weeks of age. Moreover, depending on the type of vaccine, and there are now two of them - RV5 and RV1 - it should be administered three times and twice, respectively. Regardless of the type of vaccine, it is administered orally at intervals of no more than once every 4 weeks for a small dose.

And despite the fact that even preliminary vaccination cannot guarantee 100% safety from the disease, practice shows that the incidence rate among those who are vaccinated is much lower than among those who are not vaccinated. In addition, if an ailment occurs in a vaccinated person, then all the symptoms go away easier, and the disease itself goes away faster.

Parents should also know that in rare cases, but still it happens that a negative reaction is manifested to the vaccine, which is expressed in intestinal obstruction. The number of such cases is 1 in 100,000.

The vaccine has contraindications, where the main thing is an allergic reaction that manifested itself to a previously administered vaccine. The vaccine should also be abandoned in case of problems in the work of the digestive tract, in acute and severe diseases, as well as in case of problematic intestines.

The rotavirus vaccine is optional and is done exclusively at the request of the parents. Therefore, think before agreeing to it and be sure to conduct all preliminary research, take tests to make sure there are no contraindications.

Diet for rotavirus infection

Eating a healthy diet with rotavirus is very important. Indeed, in this way, the harmonious work of the intestines will be maintained, and this will help it recover faster. As soon as the first signs of rotavirus showed themselves, it is worth immediately abandoning dairy products and sour milk, since such food contributes to the active reproduction of bacteria.

In case of illness, the patient's appetite is often disturbed, but it is impossible to force him to eat by force. You can offer fresh jelly, chicken or turkey broth, or strong tea as a meal. If the appetite is at the same level, then it is very useful to eat rice porridge, but do not use oil in its preparation. With intestinal flu, it is very important to organize the patient's diet so that he eats often, but in limited portions. This approach will prevent vomiting. You also need to drink a little, but often, this is necessary in order to prevent dehydration.

For a while, the patient must definitely give up cakes, sugar, bread (black), raw vegetables and fruits, milk, sour milk and sweets.

If the disease has struck an adult, then he needs to eat according to the principle of table 4. In this case, from drinking permissible  enter  tightly brewed coffee  and  teas, cocoa cooked in water, decoctions of dried black currants, blueberries and raspberries. The amount of salt consumed should be kept to the very minimum, and should be eaten about seven times a day. From food, you need to give preference to grated cottage cheese, stale croutons of white bread, one boiled egg per day, dietary types of meat and poultry, as well as rice and semolina cereals.

As soon as the diarrhea subsides, you can transfer your food to table number 13. It includes buckwheat, rice and semolina, dietary meat and poultry, mashed potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes and carrots, diet broths, dried bread, seasonal berries and honey.

Under no circumstances, if a person has a rotavirus infection, should not be consumed:

• canned food;
• fat meat;
• smoked and salted fish;
• cheese;
• pearl barley, millet and yachka;
• pasta;
• baking;
• fresh bread;
• fatty types of soups;
• sausage;
• cucumbers;
• garlic;
• radish;
• cabbage;
• chocolate.

If very young children who are on artificial feeding become ill, doctors prescribe a diet for them, which implies a transition to dairy-free mixtures and cereals. However, if the baby is breastfed, then it is still impossible to stop feeding. Breast milk contains a lot of useful things for the baby and with it he will recover much faster than without it.

Diet food for rotavirus is one of the main elements of the treatment of the virus, therefore, before starting a health-improving diet, be sure to consult with a specialist, and even better, if he prescribes it himself.

Prevention of rotavirus infection

In order to prevent rotavirus infection, you need to ensure that your hands are thoroughly clean. Every time before meals and always after going outside, hands should be washed with soap and water. Ideally, you should wash not only your hands, but also down to your elbows. Before eating vegetables and fruits, food must be washed with soap and water. Better yet, scald them with boiling water before a meal. Drink water not from the tap, but bottled or boiled water. And the surest way to protect yourself from rotavirus is to regularly immunity training, then no sore is terrible.

Such a simple list of measures will allow you to avoid rotavirus infection and preserve the health of yourself and your children.