ROTAVIRUS-CARING FOR KIDS

Rotavirus is a type of infection that’s most common in children under the age of 5. It’s highly contagious and easily transmittable. While it occurs most often in young children, adults can also get the infection, although it’s usually less severe. The virus can affect adults, but the most severe cases are among unvaccinated children aged from 3 to 35 months. Before 3 months, infants usually have immunity from their mother.

Who Is More Likely to Get This?

Anyone can get rotavirus, but it most commonly affects:

· Infants

· Young children

· Close relatives

· Those who work with children, such as nannies or child-care employees

Symptoms of Rotavirus in Children

If your child has been exposed to rotavirus, symptoms won't show up for about 2 days. It usually starts with a fever, vomiting, and stomach pain, which fades just as diarrhea begins. As the virus works its way through your child's system, the diarrhea can hang on for 5 to 7 days.

Adults often have similar symptoms, but they tend to be less severe.Symptoms take about 2 days to appear after infection.

They include:

· Fever

· Vomiting

· Watery Diarrhea

· Abdominal Pain

Profuse watery diarrhea may occur several times in a day. Vomiting and diarrhea can last from 3 to 8 days. This can lead to dehydration, which can be dangerous.

Signs and symptoms of dehydration include:

· decreased urination

· lethargy

· dry or overly cool skin

· absence of tears when crying

· dry or sticky mouth

· dry throat

· sunken eyes

· sunken fontanel, the soft spot on the head of an infant

· extreme thirst

· feeling dizzy on standing up

A child may be unusually sleepy or fussy. After one infection, a repeat infection is possible. However, as immunity develops with each infection, subsequent cases are less severe. There may also be different strains of the virus.Most adults build up immunity during childhood, so they are less susceptible to rotavirus.

However, adults can catch it, especially if they have a compromised immune system, if they are traveling in a place where the virus is common, or if they are exposed to an epidemic. An adult can also catch the virus from a child.

Causes Rotavirus?

Rotavirus is a part of the Reoviridae family of viruses that commonly cause stomach and respiratory illness. It is spread through people’s stool (poop). If your child gets rotavirus particles in their mouth, it can make them sick. This happens when:

· A child’s hands are contaminated with poop and they put them in their mouth.

· A child touches contaminated objects or surfaces, such as toys, and then puts their fingers in their mouth.

· A child eats contaminated food.

Rotavirus spreads easily between babies and young children. They can then spread it to caregivers or family members who they have close contact with.

How long Rotavirus Lasts

During the course of the infection, your child might first get a fever and vomit. Watery diarrhea can then occur between three and seven days thereafter. The infection itself can last for 10 days in your stool after your symptoms go away.

You may need to see a best child doctor near you if your symptoms don’t improve within a day or if they get worse. Rotavirus is diagnosed via a stool sample in a medical lab.

Rotavirus Transmission

Rotavirus is transmitted between hand and mouth contact. If you touch a person or object carrying the virus and then touch your mouth, you could develop the infection. This is most common from not washing your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers. Infants and children under 3 are at the highest risk for rotavirus infection. Being in daycare also raises their risk. You might consider taking extra precautions during winter and spring months, as more infections occur this time of year. The virus can also remain on surfaces for a few weeks after an infected person touches them. This is why it’s crucial to disinfect all common surfaces in your home frequently, especially if a member of your household has rotavirus.

Rotavirus Treatment

There aren’t any medications or treatments that will make the Rotavirus go away. This includes antiviral medications, over-the-counter anti-diarrheal drugs, and antibiotics.

In terms of treatment, then, the goal is to stay hydrated and comfortable while the virus works its way out of your system. Here are a few tips for what to do in the meantime:

·Drink plenty of fluids.

· Eat broth-based soups.

·Take Pedialyte or other fluids with electrolytes (especially important for children).

· Eat a diet of bland foods, such as white toast and saltines.

· Avoid sugary or fatty foods as these can make diarrhea worse.

You should call Child Specialist Doctor or seek emergency medical attention if your child has:

· Constant Vomiting

· Frequent Diarrhea for 24 hours or longer

· Inability to keep fluids down

· A fever of 104°F (40°C) or higher

· An unresponsive composure or signs of lethargy

Hospitalization is only required for infections that have caused severe dehydration. This is especially the case in children. Your doctor will administer intravenous (IV) fluids to help prevent life-threatening complications.

Rotavirus Vaccines

The Rotavirus vaccine was first introduced on the market in 2006. Before this time, it was commonplace for young children to have at least one bout of Rotavirus infection.You can help prevent Rotavirus and its complications by making sure your child gets vaccinated. The vaccine comes in two forms:

· Rotarix for infants 6 to 24 weeks old

· RotaTeq for infants 6 to 32 weeks old

Both of these vaccines are oral, which means they are administered by mouth, not with an injection.There is no vaccine available for older children and adults. This is why health professionals recommend getting the Rotavirus vaccine for your child at a young age while you can.

Although the Rotavirus vaccine can help, no vaccine is 100 percent effective in preventing future infections. You can talk to your pediatrician about the risks versus benefits of this type of vaccine, and whether it’s the best preventive measure for your child. Babies with severe combined immunodeficiency or intussusception, or who are already severely ill shouldn’t get the vaccine.Rare side effects of the vaccine include:

· Diarrhea

· Fever

· Fussiness

· Irritability

· Intussusception (very rare)

When to Call a Doctor

Check in with your pediatrician doctor if your child has the following symptoms:

· Lethargy and drinking less fluids

· Frequent vomiting

· Stools that are black or contain blood or pus

· Any temperature in a baby younger than 6 months

· A temperature for more than 24 hours, if your child is older than 6 months

With all the vomiting and diarrhea, your child may not feel like eating or drinking. This can cause your child to get dehydrated, which might even become life-threatening and require him being put in the hospital.

Older adults, especially those with other illnesses or conditions, might also get dehydrated.

Call your child doctor if you notice any combination of these symptoms of dehydration:

· Anxiousness

· Crying with no tears

· Little urination or dry diapers

· Dizziness

· Dry mouth and throat

· Extreme sleepiness

· Pale skin

· Sunken eyes

Diagnosis

Your doctor will likely base a diagnosis on a physical exam and questions about symptoms.

In some cases, he may have a lab analyze a sample of your child’s stool.

Questions to ask your family child doctor

· If my child has Rotavirus, how long is he or she contagious?

· What’s the best way to give my child fluids?

· What if I see blood in my child’s stool?

· Is hand-washing with standard soap effective in fighting off the infection?

· Do I need to use hand sanitizers?

· Are there special foods that help reduce diarrhea?

· Should I apply a special ointment to my child’s bottom to treat the irritation from diarrhea?

Prevention

As far as possible, a person with Rotavirus infection should stay away from other people until 48 hours have passed after the last episode of diarrhea and vomiting.Children should learn from an early age to wash their hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and before eating.The toilet bowl should be cleaned thoroughly with disinfectant after each episode of diarrhea and vomiting.

Carers should wash their hands regularly, particularly after changing a diaper or cleaning bathrooms. The person's towels, flannels, cutlery, and eating utensils should not be shared with other members of the household.As with adults, children should not return to nursery or school until 48 hours have passed since the last episode of diarrhea and vomiting.

The person should not enter a swimming pool for the first 2 weeks after their last episode of diarrhea. Even if there are no symptoms, research has found that the Rotavirus can spread to other children via the pool water.Severe dehydration is a serious complication of Rotavirus. It’s also the most common cause of Rotavirus-related deaths worldwide. Children are the most susceptible. You should call your pediatrician if your child exhibits any symptoms of Rotavirus to help prevent complications.Vaccinations are the best way to prevent Rotavirus, especially in young children. You can also help prevent spreading the infection by washing your hands frequently and particularly before eating.

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Dr Nitin Gupta