Rotavirus infection (patient information)
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [2]
Overview
Rotavirus is a virus that causes gastroenteritis (inflammation in the gastro-intestinal tract). Symptoms include severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and dehydration. Almost all children in the U.S. are likely to be infected with rotavirus before their 5th birthday. Infections happen most often in the winter and spring. It is very easy for children with the virus to spread it to other children and sometimes to adults. Once a child gets the virus, it takes about two days to become sick. Vomiting and diarrhea may last from three to eight days. There is no medicine to treat it. To prevent dehydration, have your child drink plenty of liquids. Your health care provider may recommend oral rehydration drinks. Some children need to go to the hospital for IV fluids. Two vaccines against rotavirus infections are available.
What are the symptoms of rotavirus infection?
- Vomiting
- Watery diarrhea
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
- Symptoms of dehydration include:
- Decrease in urination
- Dry mouth and throat
- Feeling dizzy when standing up
- Cry with few or no tears
- Unusually sleepy or fussy
- Adults who get rotavirus disease tend to have milder symptoms.
Who is at highest risk?
- Those in child care centers or other settings with many young children are most at risk for infection.
- Unvaccinated children, aged 3 to 35 months old, can be severely infected by rotavirus.
- Older adults have, to some extent, a risk of getting infected.
- Adults who are caring for infected children by rota virus.
- Immunocompromised patients like HIV patients.
Diagnosis
- Stool examination
- Electron microscopy
- RNA electrophoresis
- Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)
- Tissue culture
- Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
- Immunochromatographic assay
When to seek urgent medical care?
In cases of severe dehydration the patient must be hospitalized.
Treatment options
- There is no specific medicine to treat rotavirus infection, but your doctor may recommend medicines to treat symptoms. There is no antiviral drug to treat it, and antibiotic drugs will not help because antibiotics fight bacteria not viruses.
- The best way to protect against dehydration is to drink plenty of liquids. Oral rehydration solutions that you can get over the counter in U.S. food and drug stores are most helpful for mild dehydration. Severe dehydration may require hospitalization for treatment with intravenous (IV) fluids, which are given to patients directly through their veins. If you or someone you are caring for is severely dehydrated, contact your doctor.
Prevention
- Rotavirus vaccines which include: RotaTeq® (RV5) and Rotarix® (RV1).
- Access to safe drinking-water
- Use of improved sanitation
- Hand washing with soap
- Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life
- Good personal and food hygiene
- Health education about how infections spread; and Rotavirus vaccination.