Rotavirus infection: symptoms and treatment

Probably every second parent knows firsthand what rotavirus infection is. After all, it is most often the cause of diarrhea in children. We will tell you how to recognize the enemy in time, how to get rid of him and how to ensure future prevention in this article. 

Causes of rotavirus infection

Rotavirus infection, also known as intestinal flu, is   a disease of infectious origin caused by rotaviruses. The disease is transmitted through the fecal-oral route. In general, this disease is popularly called the disease of dirty hands, which is why it is most often diagnosed in young children who go to kindergarten, as well as in schoolchildren. However, each time, after another infection, immunity to each type of bacteria is created in the victim’s body, so if the infection recurs subsequently, which happens very rarely, then the illness goes away easier and easier. Rotavirus infection can be either isolated or epidemic in nature. But basically, intestinal flu is a seasonal disease, and the surge in its activity occurs from autumn to spring.

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Incubation period of rotavirus infection

The primary signal about the onset of rotavirus infection is acute cramping pain in the abdomen, a feeling of general malaise, vomiting and an increase in body temperature. Opens strong

Symptoms of rotavirus infection

diarrhea . Unlike ordinary indigestion, diarrhea caused by rotavirus has a sharp sour odor and yellow color. In most patients, redness of the conjunctiva of the eyes and mucous membrane of the throat can be noted.{!LANG-22612f769de199e9f46b3f543f03e15f!}

Severe diarrhea increases the risk dehydration, which is very dangerous and can even be fatal. Therefore, the patient must be given water, 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 consult a doctor in a timely manner in order to make an accurate diagnosis and prevent serious consequences.

How is rotavirus infection 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 grab them with your hands, and then get into your mouth with this hand. If the immune system is strong, the person will not notice anything, since the infection will be destroyed immediately, but if the immune system is weakened, then infection will occur.

In general, rotavirus infection can be found everywhere and even hover in the air and settle on things and household items. Therefore, as soon as one person becomes infected, as often happens in kindergartens, others begin to get sick en masse. The danger of rotavirus is that it is very stable and tenacious. He does not tolerate low temperatures, low humidity and other environments that are usually destructive for most bacteria. The only thing he can’t survive 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 overall picture looks something like this: 1-5 days - incubation period, 3-7 days - exacerbation period; 4-5 days recovery period. In total, it takes 8-17 days from start to finish.

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

Treatment of rotavirus infection

Despite the high prevalence of the disease, a cure for it has not yet been invented. But a certain treatment regimen has been developed that allows the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract to be normalized in a short time. The main symptom of rotavirus is diarrhea, which can lead to severe dehydration. Therefore, special attention should be paid to ensuring that the patient consumes enough fluid. Special powders can also come to the rescue. For a speedy recovery, you can take the simplest activated carbon in the mornings and evenings. Taking sorbents will help stop vomiting.

To normalize the functioning of 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 medications that will provide all possible assistance in treatment, but self-prescribing is highly discouraged. Contact a doctor who will prescribe the most effective therapy suitable for your specific case.

Vaccination against rotavirus infection

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 get 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 in 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 the disease 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 it still happens, a negative reaction to the vaccine occurs, which is expressed in intestinal obstruction. The number of such cases is 1 in 100,000.

The vaccine has contraindications, the main one being an allergic reaction that occurred to a previously administered vaccine. The vaccine should also be abandoned if there are problems with the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, with acute and severe illnesses, as well as with problematic intestines.

The rotavirus vaccine is not mandatory and is done solely at the request of the parents. Therefore, think before agreeing to it and be sure to conduct all preliminary research and get tested to make sure there are no contraindications.

Diet for rotavirus infection

Organizing proper nutrition during rotavirus is very important. After all, in this way the harmonious functioning of the intestines will be maintained, and this will help it recover faster. As soon as the first signs of rotavirus appear, you should immediately give up dairy products and fermented milk, since such food promotes the active proliferation of bacteria.

When the disease occurs, the patient's appetite is often impaired, but one cannot force him to eat. You can offer fresh jelly, chicken or turkey broth, or strong tea as a meal. If your 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 little but often, this is necessary in order to prevent dehydration.

For a while, the patient must 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  acceptable  enter  tightly   brewed  coffee and  teas  , cocoa prepared with water, decoctions of dried black currants, blueberries and raspberries. The amount of salt consumed should be kept to a minimum, and eaten about seven times a day. For food, you should give preference to pureed 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 diet to table No. 13. It includes buckwheat, rice and semolina, dietary meat and poultry, mashed potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes and carrots, dietary broths, dried bread, seasonal berries and honey.

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canned food;

• fatty meat;
• smoked and salted fish;
• cheese;
• pearl barley, millet and egg;
• pasta;
• baked goods;
• fresh bread;
• fatty types of soups;
• sausage;
• cucumbers;
• garlic;
• radish;
• cabbage;
• chocolate.
• If very young children who are bottle-fed get sick, doctors prescribe them a diet that involves switching to dairy-free formulas and cereals. However, if the baby is breastfed, then you still cannot stop feeding. Breast milk contains many benefits for the baby and with it he will recover much faster than without it.

Dietary nutrition for rotavirus is one of the main elements of treating the virus, so before you go on a health-improving diet, be sure to consult with a specialist, or even better, if he prescribes it himself.

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Prevention of rotavirus infection

In order to prevent rotavirus infection, it is necessary to ensure thorough cleanliness of hands. Every time before eating and always after going outside, you should wash your hands with soap. Ideally, you need to wash not only your hands, but also all the way to your elbows. Before eating vegetables and fruits, they must be washed with soap. It’s even better if you scald them with boiling water before eating. Drink water not from the tap, but bottled or boiled. And the surest way to protect yourself from rotavirus is regular immunity training, then no pain is scary.

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