- Rotavirus infection in children: a serious disease
- Treatment
Rotavirus - a highly contagious group of viral infections, most commonly affects children between the ages of six months to two years. The main symptoms of rotavirus infection in children - watery stools, diarrhea, nausea, in the most serious cases leading to dehydration of the child.
Since rotavirus can be encountered anywhere - this is a very common virus that can exist in nature, without losing its properties for several days. The most common rotavirus outbreaks are observed in winter (even in areas with tropical climates relationship incidence of rotavirus infection and the best value). In rotavirus has several other names - rotavirus gastroenteritis "stomach flu", a children's diarrhea. The smaller the child, the more intense the symptoms of rotavirus infection.
Since rotavirus is highly contagious, infected with rotavirus child can anywhere - including in kindergarten or school. The main reason for rotavirus infection in children - direct contact with the infected objects and disregard the rules of personal hygiene (eg, lack of habit to wash your hands before eating or after going to the restroom). On any surface (including toys) rotavirus can live for a long time. The incubation period of rotavirus infection in children (time from infection to onset of symptoms) is one to three days.
In developing countries, in unsanitary conditions and lack of proper treatment of rotavirus die hundreds of thousands of children each year. In the first three years of life rotavirus infection can occur repeatedly, the symptoms of re-infection is usually milder. Gradually, the child's body develops immunity to rotavirus.
Signs
The first symptom of rotavirus infection in children - nausea and vomiting after four to eight days appears diarrhea. The most common symptoms of rotavirus infection in children include:
- Sickness
- Vomiting
- High temperature, fever
- Abdominal pain spasmodic
- Watery stools, diarrhea (which may last up to eight days in a row)
- Cough, snot
Diagnosis and prevention
The main method of diagnosis of rotavirus infection in children - analysis of feces
How to pass a stool, so as not to spoil it
. Because of the viral nature of the infection antibiotics are not effective, so as such a cure for rotavirus infection does not exist. To prevent dehydration in a child, one of the most common effects of rotavirus infection, you must make sure that the child tried as much as possible of the liquid (carbonated beverages and citrus juices are not recommended). Breast-feeding while rotavirus is permitted, but at the same time from the diet is better to exclude from the diet of dairy products, cheese and butter. Breastfeeding does not prevent infection with rotavirus in infants, but, in practice, it helps to reduce the symptoms. If the symptoms of rotavirus infection in the child's intense and unabated for several days, to avoid the risk of dehydration is best to consult a doctor.
Risks and complications
One of the most serious complications of rotavirus infection in children - dehydration, which can lead to the need for hospitalization (although such cases are rare).
The main symptoms of dehydration caused by rotavirus infection include:
- Dry mouth and tongue
- Thirst
- Sunken eyes
- Increased irritability
Irritability - you try to control my temper
or, conversely, sluggishness
- The absence of urination
- The lack of tears when crying
Rotavirus infection symptoms in children
Rotavirus - a very common phenomenon, commonly seen in infants and young children. Almost all children to achieve five years of age at least once faced with rotavirus. Although rotavirus infection is not considered really dangerous disease in children infected with rotavirus, there is a risk of dehydration is really dangerous for the health of the child.
The group of the main symptoms of rotavirus infection in children include:
The first symptom of rotavirus infection in infants and young children - a slight fever. Often parents do not recognize the infection in time, since the temperature rise slightly. That is why it is important to constantly monitor the fluctuations of the body temperature of the child to recognize rotavirus infection at an early stage.
The main symptom of rotavirus infection in children - diarrhea, watery stools brown, greenish or yellow mustard. Although neonatal diarrhea - a normal phenomenon, diarrhea caused by rotavirus, is very different from the normal peristalsis of a healthy child. Any changes in consistency, color or odor chair child whistleblower of the intestine - and, in particular, about the beginning of rotavirus.
One of the most common symptoms of rotavirus infection - frequent vomiting. While spitting up after feeding - perfectly normal, rotavirus can cause intense vomiting, incomparable with the usual regurgitation, which over time may be different from feeding.
In addition to vomiting and diarrhea, rotavirus infection
Rotavirus: favorable prognosis
in children is often accompanied by pain in the abdomen. It is particularly important to recognize the symptoms of rotavirus infection in infants: babies become cranky and noisy, constantly crying, refusing to lie down on his stomach.
Constant diarrhea and frequent vomiting in children can lead to dehydration of the child's body. In rare cases, in the absence of proper care of the sick child, the degree of dehydration is so high that the child requires hospitalization and intravenous fluids. The main symptoms of dehydration caused by rotavirus infection in children - lethargy, apathy, thirst, dry skin
Dry skin: care and treatment
, Sunken eyes, no tears when crying newborn.