Rotavirus is an intestinal infection that is common in children. Characteristic signs are fever, diarrhea, and nausea. These symptoms cause very serious anxiety in parents, as well as dehydration of the baby’s body is very dangerous. It is important to consult a pediatrician in a timely manner. If you do not conduct therapy, then there may be serious complications for the child's body.
Causes of occurrence
For successful treatment, you need to understand exactly how long a rotavirus infection in a child lasts, and how exactly it is transmitted. The disease has an epidemic nature. A feature of the infection is environmental sustainability. Rotavirus lives in water for about 2 months, on objects - up to 1 month, and in feces - more than 6 months. The infection does not die under the influence of disinfectants, acids, but is afraid of high temperatures.
To provoke the onset of infection, just a small amount of pathogenic microorganisms is enough. Doctors distinguish such methods of infection as:
- Alimentary - the virus is found in feces or vomiting;
- contact household;
- aerogenic - the infection spreads through the air.
Children over 12 years old are much less susceptible to this disease. The clinical picture may not be too pronounced. Diarrhea is minor, and there is no vomiting at all.
Rotavirus infection is mainly associated with dirty hands. This is the most common method of infection. The infection mechanism includes such stages as:
- after going to the toilet, a person does not wash his hands;
- taken with dirty hands for cutlery, food;
- the virus is transmitted to a healthy person and begins to multiply actively in the intestines.
The carrier of the virus is basically quite healthy people. When rotavirus is in a hidden state, a person can feel good and the symptoms are completely absent.
Rotavirus is often transmitted through contact-household transmission, especially in children's groups, and there are also outbreaks of infection in the hospital. You can become infected in close proximity to a sick person, even with careful observance of hygiene rules.
Main symptoms
No one can absolutely say exactly how long rotavirus infection in children lasts, since a lot depends on the characteristics of the body and treatment. Usually the disease lasts about a week. Rotavirus is very dangerous, especially for babies. He still has immunity only gaining strength.
If the child has diarrhea, he is constantly sick and vomits, it is urgent to see a doctor. Treatment must be prescribed immediately after diagnosis. Rotavirus is especially dangerous on the 5th day after the onset of symptoms. You need to know exactly how long the rotavirus infection in a child lasts, and what signs are characteristic of it. Among the main symptoms, it is necessary to highlight such as:
- drowsiness;
- dry skin
- slight salivation;
- little urine is excreted.
All these signs require urgent consultation with a doctor. If you do not conduct treatment, then this will provoke complications. It is necessary to highlight such signs as:
- nasal congestion and mucous discharge;
- coughing;
- conjunctivitis or otitis media;
- temperature rise.
There is also sharp pain and rumbling in the abdomen, nausea and vomiting. All these symptoms lead to very rapid fluid loss. The smaller the child’s age, the more dangerous dehydration is for him.
How long does the incubation period last?
After the virus enters the body, the symptoms do not appear immediately. An infection may not manifest itself at all for several days. She takes an acute form a little later.
Many are interested in how long a rotavirus infection lasts in a child and how long the incubation period lasts. It all depends on the state of the baby's body. The maximum incubation period is 5 days. All this time, the well-being of the child does not worsen.
At the end of the incubation period, the child’s temperature rises, he feels sick, diarrhea appears, he feels weak. To prevent the occurrence of dangerous complications, the infection must be treated immediately. You can further strengthen and diversify the nutrition of the child, give him as much vitamin as possible.
Parents may not immediately detect the course of the disease, since the symptoms almost do not manifest themselves. If in kindergarten a child has been in contact with sick children, then preventive measures must be taken.
How long does diarrhea last?
How many days a rotavirus infection lasts in a child depends largely on the pathogen strain and the state of the baby’s immune system. Diarrhea lasts approximately 5 days. At this time, the child becomes moody, lethargic, his appetite disappears.
From the very beginning of the course of rotavirus, the stool is liquid, foamy, watery with a pungent and unpleasant odor. Mucus may be present in feces. With an easy course of the disease, bowel movements acquire a mushy consistency. Often the diarrhea observed with rotavirus is accompanied by painful and pulling sensations in the abdomen, as well as a loud rumbling.
How long does vomiting last
You need to know exactly not only how long the rotavirus infection in a child lasts, but also for how many days the symptoms of the disease are observed. In children aged 1-5 years, at the initial stage of the course of the disease, pronounced symptoms are observed. Rotavirus can occur against the background of acute respiratory viral infections with reddening of the throat, cough, runny nose.
How many days a baby's rotavirus infection lasts and vomiting continues, largely depends on the immunity and age of the baby. In infants, the type of feeding is of particular importance. Mother's milk contains the required antibodies that support the baby's immunity. A child tolerates intestinal flu much more easily than an artificial person.
With low immunity, the disease proceeds in a severe form, lasts 7-10 days with pronounced symptoms and frequent vomiting. With damage to the body with moderate rotavirus, vomiting lasts mainly 3-5 days.
If the baby’s immune system is strong enough and the disease proceeds in its most mild form, then vomiting occurs every other day or maybe only 1-2 times. As the child grows older, with the course of rotavirus, the symptoms are much less acute, and in the event of re-infection, there is already immunity and the signs of the disease are mostly erased.
How long does the disease last?
How much time rotavirus infection lasts is of interest to all parents, as they are very worried about their child. The average duration of the course of the disease is 5-7 days, but it takes about 10 days to fully recover.
It is necessary to understand at least approximately how long the infectious period lasts for rotavirus infection, since it is rapidly transmitted. A sick person remains the main source of rotavirus for all days of the course of the disease. In addition, within 10 days after the disappearance of symptoms in the secretions of the child, the pathogen is still contained. Some doctors say that for a month after the onset of the very first signs, the child remains contagious.
Infant mortality from rotavirus is simply amazing. That is why, at the slightest suspicion of the course of the disease, you should immediately consult a doctor and fight the infection under the supervision of a specialist.
Many are interested not only in how many days the rotavirus infection lasts, but also whether it is possible to get infected again after recovery. Yes, this is quite possible and happens quite often. As a child grows up, its gastrointestinal tract becomes more resistant to various pathogens, the immune system strengthens, so rotavirus affects adults less often.
How long rotavirus infection lasts depends largely on immunity, the individual characteristics of the digestive system, and the presence of certain diseases. However, it is worth remembering that not all children suffer the disease in a severe form.
Diagnostics
Deterioration may be due to many other infections that can cause diarrhea and vomiting. That is why a comprehensive examination is needed to accurately diagnose the disease. To know how to conduct treatment, you need to pass a number of tests.
Determine the presence of the virus will help stool microscopy. Serological testing of blood serum helps to identify specific antibodies. A couple of hours after the test, you can get a result that will help you choose the appropriate treatment.
You can purchase a test and conduct it yourself if signs of the disease appear. The duration of rotavirus infection in children largely depends on the timely detection of the disease and the correctness of the treatment.
Treatment features
How long does the disease rotavirus infection, largely depends on the timeliness and correctness of the therapy. There is no special way to conduct treatment. All therapeutic methods are aimed at eliminating the unpleasant symptoms of infection. To develop immunity in a child, you need to follow a special diet. The doctor may prescribe special drugs, namely:
- antispasmodics;
- antipyretic;
- immunotropic drugs.
Additionally, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics, but only after a diagnosis. The course of therapy and dosage largely depends on the age of the baby and can last 5 days.
To prevent severe dehydration, you should give your child a drink as often as possible. This will help maintain fluid balance in the body and create the necessary conditions for the full functioning of the body. Initially, the child is given 1 tsp. liquids, and then gradually increase the amount. You can also give the baby such solutions as:
- "Regidron";
- Humana
- "Oralit."
To remove toxic substances from the body, the baby is given Smecta or activated charcoal. To bring down the heat, you can use "Nurofen", "Paracetamol", candles "Cefecon".
If the child has cramps and a very high temperature, you can wipe it with saline. When rumbling and abdominal pain appear, the baby is given:
- "Latsidofil";
- “No-Shpu”;
- Riobal.
After the appetite is restored, and it will be seen that the microflora has recovered, and the diarrhea has passed, the child is prescribed "Bactisubtil." A capsule previously diluted in water should be taken twice a day one hour before meals. Treatment is carried out within 5 days.
Rotavirus in infants
This disease affects adults and children. The disease is especially dangerous for babies up to a year old, so it is important for parents to know how long rotavirus infection lasts in infants and how to help the child.
Once in the body, the virus attacks the intestines and cells of its mucosa for 1-5 days. That is how much time the incubation period lasts. Then there is a rapid increase in symptoms. In infants, the course of rotavirus is very severe and the disease begins with symptoms such as:
- temperature rise;
- severe diarrhea;
- vomiting, sometimes with mucus;
- loss of appetite;
- stomach ache;
- lethargy and weakness;
- redness of the throat;
- runny nose, tonsil enlargement;
- cough;
- cramps and loss of consciousness (in especially severe cases).
The child has a frequent watery stool with a fetid odor. If there are inclusions of blood, then this means that the deterioration of health was provoked by another virus.
When such symptoms appear, you must definitely call an ambulance, as there can be very strong dehydration of the child's body.
Possible complications
Often there is a positive outcome of rotavirus infection in children. Incorrect and untimely treatment can provoke various kinds of complications, namely:
- dehydration;
- dysbiosis;
- weakening of immunity.
Dehydration is considered a very dangerous complication, since it is associated with the rapid course of rotavirus. The child’s body is literally drained by constant vomiting, diarrhea and fever. With weakened immunity, repeated SARS and rotavirus infection are possible.
Prophylaxis
It is necessary not only to know at least approximately how long the acute period of rotavirus infection lasts, what is typical for him, how the treatment is carried out, but also how the occurrence of the disease can be prevented. It is necessary to observe the basic rules of hygiene, to teach children to wash their hands with soap after each visit to the toilet, walk, before eating.
Particular attention should be paid to cleaning the apartment and regular thorough disinfection of all children's toys. During an outbreak, it is important to prevent contact with babies who are affected by rotavirus. It is important to eliminate the consumption of tap water. Vaccination against rotavirus is also very important.