Contents:
- Medical Video: Diarrhea In Children - Pediatric Advice
- Rotavirus is a virus that is easily transmitted and dangerous
- This is how rotavirus infection spreads
- Signs and symptoms of rotavirus infection
- Treatment of rotavirus infection
Medical Video: Diarrhea In Children - Pediatric Advice
The word rotavirus may still sound strange to the ear. Yes, not many know that rotavirus is a type of virus that can cause gastrointestinal infections. This virus is in fact the main cause of the incidence of diarrhea in children.
In fact, according to the Indonesian Pediatrician Association, rotavirus diarrhea is one of the causes of high child mortality in Indonesia. Indeed, infection with this virus can be deadly, so the Ministry of Health advises parents to give their babies the rotavirus vaccine. Actually, what is Rotavirus like? What happens if your child gets rotavirus? What are the signs?
Rotavirus is a virus that is easily transmitted and dangerous
Reported on the CDC page, the center for disease control and prevention in the United States, rotavirus is a contagious virus that can cause inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
Rotavirus is very easily transmitted, especially in children, causing diarrhea, nausea, fever, abdominal pain, and dehydration. Mostly, the virus that causes diarrhea will infect babies and children under 3 years.
Even so, anyone can actually get rotavirus infection, including adults. However, the difference between the symptoms of rotavirus infection that occurs in adults is not as severe as that of children.
Unfortunately, rotavirus diarrhea cannot be overcome with medication, even children who have received the rotavirus vaccine may still have an infection.
However, indeed children who have had the rotavirus vaccine will experience symptoms that are far milder than those without vaccines at all.
This is how rotavirus infection spreads
Keep in mind that rotavirus is a cause of infectious diseases that are easily spread and contagious. This virus is initially found in the faeces of people who have been infected. Although at that time the person hasn't felt any symptoms, usually he can transmit rotavirus to other people and the surrounding environment.
Well, so you don't spread everywhere, you must always maintain personal hygiene. Simple habits such as washing hands with soap and running water after from the bathroom or before eating, in fact can cut the spread of rotavirus diarrhea.
Unfortunately, many people ignore the habit of washing hands, even though after cleaning dirt, rotavirus can stick to the hand. From the hand, the virus will move goods or places that you touch. Well, from there the spread of rotavirus starts.
Rotavirus infection is easily transmitted if:
- Not washing hands with soap then touching the mouth after from the bathroom
- Holding objects that have been contaminated with rotavirus, then hands into the mouth
- Eat foods that have been contaminated with rotavirus
Because the spread is very easy, actually rotavirus can be everywhere, such as:
- On stationery
- In food
- The surface of the sink and kitchen table
- Toy
- handphone
- Cooking ware
- Water
Signs and symptoms of rotavirus infection
Symptoms of a rotavirus infection can appear within 2 days after being exposed to the virus. The most common symptom is severe diarrhea in children. Rotavirus diarrhea can occur for 3-8 days. In addition, several other conditions that can occur when your child is infected with rotavirus are:
- Gag
- Appetite decreases
- The color of the stool is black
- Feels very tired
- Fever
- Dehydration (loss of a lot of body fluids)
- Abdominal pain
In adults, these symptoms are also experienced but at a much milder level. In fact, in some cases of rotavirus infection in adults, there are no symptoms that appear at that time.
Treatment of rotavirus infection
Basically there is no specific drug treating rotavirus infection, but the doctor will treat it based on the symptoms that appear. For example, rotavirus diarrhea will cause sufferers to become dehydrated.
Well, because dehydration is very susceptible to being experienced by toddlers, children and parents, the doctor will overcome and prevent these things from happening.So, besides drugs, one of the treatments for rotavirus is drinking lots of water, this cannot be replaced with medicine. If dehydration is already severe, you need direct fluid intake into the veins through an IV.
