1 Symptoms of the disease

Rotavirus, or rotavirus gastroenteritis, is quite widespread in the environment, and most of these children are sick before the age of two years. And it happens in almost all countries of the world, regardless of the standard of living in them. Although the mortality rate from this disease in developed and developing countries is very different. In 90% of children older than 4 years, antibodies to this virus are detected, which indicates its wide distribution. For the first time this pathogen was discovered not so long ago, in 1973.This was done by scientists from Australia.

Adults can also develop such a disease, but they have a lighter formexcept for severely weakened patients and elderly people) and with erased symptoms.

The wide spread of this infection suggests that the ailment is very contagious. That is, in a team or family, where one person falls ill, there will certainly be more sick people. This intestinal infection is transmitted both through dirty hands, and through food( especially dairy).Not for nothing this disease is called a disease of dirty hands.

The incubation period of rotavirus infection implies that in the body during this period, pathogenic microorganisms multiply and accumulate. Symptoms at this time are absent. The duration of this period will depend on many factors - on the number of pathogens that have got into the body, on the state of the patient's immunity, on the presence of concomitant diseases. On average this period lasts 2-3 days.

The disease begins sharply. The patient has such symptoms:

• fever;
• multiple vomiting;
• watery stool with no admixture of blood;
• pain and rumbling in the abdomen;
• weakness.

In addition to the manifestations of the gastrointestinal tract, the patient also has catarrhal symptoms - a runny nose, cough, and a sore throat. These symptoms are characterized by rotavirus infection in children. In adults, however, its manifestations will be similar to a digestive disorder.

These symptoms are also characteristic of other, more serious ailments( eg dysentery and salmonellosis), so if you have such symptoms, especially in young children, you should immediately call a doctor.

2 What is the danger of an ailment?

The most dangerous consequence of this disease is dehydration of the body. This condition is especially unfavorable for a baby. It is dehydration that causes the death of children from this disease. How can you suspect that the child started dehydration? This can be done if the infants have such symptoms:

• sunken fontanel;
• causeless crying;
• dry, lined tongue;
• no urination more than 3 hours.

Frequent diarrhea without adequate therapy can lead to the development of symptoms such as fever, convulsions, loss of consciousness, pneumonia in the baby.

Therefore, the primary task in the presence of such symptoms( except for a doctor's call, of course) for parents is the measures to restore the water-salt balance. Famous pediatrician Eugene Komarovsky strongly recommends that you keep handy for oral hydration. These are powders that should be diluted with water and watered with this solution of the baby. If you do not find such a tool in your home medicine chest, you need to dissolve a spoonful of table salt and a pinch of baking soda in a liter of boiled water and give such a drink to your child. Do this very often, approximately 1 tbsp.l.every 5 minutes. Then the body will restore that moisture, which he lost with diarrhea.

3 Treatment measures

Rotavirus infection in children is diagnosed on the basis of clinical manifestations, as well as by laboratory analysis of stool.

Medical treatment of this disease has no practical meaning, since there are no drugs capable of destroying this type of virus. Antibiotics are prescribed only in those cases when the patient has concomitant diseases. That is, the main treatment for rotavirus infection is aimed at eliminating symptoms - diarrhea, fever, dehydration.

To knock down the temperature of a child with such a disease is recommended only if it rises above 38 ° C.The point is that rotaviruses are killed at this temperature.

Sorbents are used - Enterosgel, Atoxil, Sorbeks, Activated carbon. Their task is to remove toxins from the intestine, which are released by the virus, and thereby prevent the whole body from intoxication. Enzyme preparations such as Mezima, Pancreatin can also be prescribed to facilitate the digestion of food.

An important role in the treatment of this disease is diet. From its observance it often depends on how long the rotavirus infection lasts. The fact is that rotavirus, getting into the intestine, suppresses the production of certain enzymes, which are necessary for the cleavage of certain products. In particular, the enzyme that breaks down lactose( milk sugar) practically ceases to be produced by the gastrointestinal tract. And the restoration of this process can go a considerable amount of time - up to 20 days.

This means that the baby is not allowed to give dairy products at this time. The question arises as to what to do with infants who are breastfed. Doctors recommend feeding during this period a special lactose-free mixture, while the mother must fight hard to keep breastfeeding.

4 Preventive measures

To date, two vaccines are available for specific prevention of rotavirus infection. These drugs contain a highly attenuated virus. And their reception provokes the production of antibodies by the body, and the baby, faced with such a pathogen, does not get sick at all or will bear the disease in an easy form. Take the vaccine data orally( that is, through the mouth).

This vaccination is best for infants 6 to 20 weeks after birth. At the older age, its use is not so effective. The vaccine is safe and has virtually no side effects. In many countries, such vaccination is mandatory and included in national vaccination calendars.

As for non-specific prevention, it consists mainly of careful observance of personal hygiene rules. This is a thorough washing of hands after going to the toilet, after returning from the street and before eating. But not only. This also means that you need to thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables, and in the period of epidemiological trouble, you also have to water them with boiling water.

You need to boil water, and even better - to use bottled, from a proven manufacturer. Milk and dairy products should only be bought in stores, avoiding spontaneous markets on which products of questionable quality are sold. And be sure to monitor the expiry date of the products.

Rotovirus infection is a very unpleasant disease. Nevertheless, the forecast is very favorable. At the first manifestations of the ailment the baby should immediately seek qualified medical help. And then recovery will not keep you waiting. Health to you and your children!