Rotavirus: Symptoms and Treatment

Rotavirus is a serious infection that affects people of all ages and causes a variety of different unpleasant symptoms, including nausea, fever, and diarrhea. However, many rotavirus infections are simple to treat and typically clear up on their own with some rest and plenty of fluids. In rare cases, severe dehydration may occur and require intravenous fluids.

Risk Factors for Rotavirus

There are a few factors that may help indicate whether you or someone you know are at an increased risk of developing the illness. For example, the virus tends to infect the following groups of people more often than others:

• Children between three months old and 35 months old
• Older adults
• Individuals with a weak immune system

It’s important to note that the rotavirus is more common during the winter and spring months in the United States. Even if you’re not in one of the high-risk groups, it’s always a good idea to practice proper hand washing techniques and cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze to help limit the spread of germs during these months.

Causes of Rotavirus

Rotavirus spreads via hand-to-mouth contact. This means if you have the virus and use the restroom without washing your hands afterward, you may pass the virus on to anything else you touch, including utensils, food, drinks, toys, and more. To make matters worse, if someone else touches the objects you contaminated, they may become infected with the virus as well.

Oftentimes you may have the virus and not even know it, as symptoms don’t always present themselves. Once infected, the virus remains in your body, specifically your stool, for a week or two before clearing up.

Symptoms of Rotavirus

If you have rotavirus, you may experience a variety of symptoms similar to the flu, including fever, vomiting, and diarrhea that may last anywhere from a few days to a week. Additionally, the virus may also cause abdominal pain.

However, not everyone infected with the virus experiences symptoms. If you’re a healthy adult, it’s not uncommon to contract the illness but show mild or even no symptoms at all. Like many other illnesses, rotavirus affects everyone differently.

Diagnosis of Rotavirus

If you think you may have rotavirus, visit your doctor for a check-up. While at the clinic, he or she may perform a physical exam and make a diagnosis based on the symptoms you have. Additionally, your doctor may collect a stool sample for analysis to help confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment of Rotavirus

Unfortunately, there is no magic cure for rotavirus, and there are no antivirals or antibiotics to help heal this infection. Instead, the illness typically clears up on its own with rest and plenty of fluids.

During the recovery period, one of the biggest concerns is dehydration, which is why it’s so important to drink plenty of fluids until any symptoms you have clear up. If you have a child infected with the illness, consider stocking up on Pedialyte to help your youngster stay hydrated, especially if he or she has severe diarrhea. Rehydration fluids such as Pedialyte are more effective at replacing lost minerals than water and other types of liquid. In rare, severe cases, you may require intravenous fluids to help your body rehydrate.

Prognosis of Rotavirus

Fortunately, most people with the virus have no problem powering through it until it clears up. The prognosis for making a full recovery after a rotavirus infection is good.

Complications of Rotavirus

In rare cases, severe bouts of diarrhea may result in dehydration, especially in young children. If left untreated, this may result in a life-threatening condition