Rotavirus infection is called rotavirus infection and is characterized by severe diarrhea and vomiting, especially in infants and young children between 6 months and 2 years of age.Symptoms usually appear suddenly and last between 8 and 10 days.
Because it causes diarrhea and vomiting, it is important to take steps to prevent the child from dehydrated, even by increasing the child’s fluid intake. In addition, it is not recommended to give the child foods or medications that retain the intestine before the first 5 days of diarrhea because the virus needs to be eliminated by faeces, otherwise the infection may get worse.
- Diarrhoea caused by rotavirus is very acidic and can therefore reden the entire intimate area of the baby.
- With greater ease of diaper rash.
- So for each episode of diarrhea it is more appropriate to remove the diaper.
- Wash the intimate parts of the baby.
- With water and moisturizing soap and put a clean diaper on it.
Symptoms of rotavirus infection usually appear suddenly and are more severe when the child is young, due to the immaturity of the immune system.The most characteristic symptoms include:
In some cases, there may only be vomiting or diarrhoea alone; However, treatment should be initiated as soon as possible, as vomiting and diarrhea can promote dehydration in the child within hours, resulting in other symptoms such as dry mouth, dry lips and sunken eyes..
Diagnosis of rotavirus infection is usually made by a pediatrician when evaluating symptoms, but a stool test may also be requested to confirm the presence of the virus.
Rotavirus transmission occurs very easily and the infected child can infect other children even before they develop symptoms and up to 2 months after infection has been controlled, the main route of infection being contact with the stool of the infected child.several days out of the body and is very resistant to soaps and disinfectants.
In addition to fecal-oral transmission, rotavirus can be transmitted through contact between an infected person and a healthy person, contact with contaminated surfaces, or ingestion of water or food contaminated by rotavirus.
There are many types or strains of rotavirus and children up to 3 years of age can become infected several times, although the following are smaller.Even children vaccinated against rotavirus can develop the infection, even if they have milder symptoms.The rotavirus vaccine is not part of the Ministry of Health’s basic vaccination schedule, but can be given at a pediatrician’s prescription.Know when to give the rotavirus vaccine.
Treatment of rotavirus infection can be done with simple steps to ensure that the child does not become dehydrated as there is no specific treatment for rotavirus.To reduce fever, your pediatrician may prescribe acetaminophen or ibuprofen in interleaved doses.
Parents should take care of the child by providing water, juice, tea and light meals such as soups or fine porridge to ensure that the child receives vitamins, nutrients and minerals so that he recovers more quickly; however, it is important to provide fluids. and food in small amounts so that the child does not vomit immediately afterwards.
It is also important to take measures that reduce the risk of contagion, such as always washing your hands after going to the bathroom and preparing food, as well as taking care of personal and domestic hygiene, not using water from rivers, streams or wells that are possibly contaminated areas and protecting animal food and cooking areas.
Signs of improvement usually appear from the 5th day, when episodes of diarrhea and vomiting begin to subside; gradually the child becomes more active and is more interested in playing and talking, which may indicate that the concentration of viruses is decreasing and that is why he is recovering.
The child can return to school or day care after spending 24 hours eating normally, without episodes of diarrhea or vomiting.
It is important for the child to be taken to the pediatrician when he or she presents:
In addition, it is recommended to take the child to the doctor when signs and symptoms of dehydration are controlled, such as dry mouth and skin, lack of sweat, dark circles, constant low fever and decreased heart rate. recognize the signs and symptoms of dehydration.