Rotavirus infection (patient information): Difference between revisions
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==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
Rotavirus is a virus that causes gastroenteritis. 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. | 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. | 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?== | ==What are the symptoms of rotavirus infection?== | ||
*Vomiting | *[[Vomiting]] | ||
*Watery diarrhea | *[[Watery diarrhea]] | ||
*Fever | *[[Fever]] | ||
*Abdominal pain | *[[Abdominal pain]] | ||
*Symptoms of dehydration include: | *Symptoms of dehydration include: | ||
**Decrease in urination | **[[Oliguria|Decrease in urination]] | ||
**Dry mouth and throat | **Dry mouth and throat | ||
**Feeling dizzy when standing up | **Feeling [[dizzy]] when standing up | ||
**Cry with few or no tears | **Cry with few or no tears | ||
**Unusually sleepy or fussy | **Unusually sleepy or fussy | ||
*Adults who get rotavirus disease tend to have milder symptoms. | *Adults who get [[rotavirus]] [[disease]] tend to have milder symptoms. | ||
==Who is at highest risk?== | ==Who is at highest risk?== | ||
*Those in child care centers or other settings with many young children are most at risk for infection. | *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 | *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. | *Older adults have, to some extent, a risk of getting [[infected]]. | ||
*Adults who are caring for infected children by rota virus. | *Adults who are caring for infected children by rota virus. | ||
*Immunocompromised patients like HIV patients. | *[[Immunocompromised]] patients like HIV patients. | ||
==Diagnosis== | ==Diagnosis== | ||
*Stool examination | *[[Stool examination]] | ||
*Electron microscopy | *[[Electron microscopy]] | ||
*RNA electrophoresis | *[[RNA]] [[electrophoresis]] | ||
*Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) | *[[Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction|Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction]] (RT-PCR) | ||
*Tissue culture | *Tissue culture | ||
*Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA) | *[[Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)|Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA)]] | ||
*Immunochromatographic assay | *Immunochromatographic assay | ||
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==Treatment options== | ==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. | *There is no specific medicine to treat rotavirus infection, but your doctor may recommend medicines to treat symptoms. There is no [[Antiviral drug (patient information)|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. | *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 fluids|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== | ==Prevention== | ||
Revision as of 13:37, 15 May 2017
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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.