How to Treat Rotavirus in Infants
Rotavirus is a very common virus during the first 5 years of a child's life. Although we can all suffer from it, infants are more likely to do so due to how it is passed on. This is an infection that affects the small intestine and causes the body to stop receiving necessary nutrients. In addition, rotavirus is the leading cause of gastroenteritis and severe diarrhea in little ones, leading to rapid dehydration if necessary measures are not taken.
So, at OneHowTo.com we'll explain how to treat rotavirus in infants effectively to reduce symptoms and improve the health of the person who is suffering from it.
Once the symptoms of rotavirus have presented and a specialist has confirmed the diagnosis, it is very important to start treatment as soon as possible to curb the most dangerous symptoms: diarrhea and vomiting. These can lead to severe dehydration, especially if it is a small child.
Depending on the severity of the case, to treat rotavirus in infants, a doctor may recommend taking antibiotics that will help to control the infection and improve the patient's health. You should follow the treatment to the letter and complete the course to prevent relapses.
During the first few hours it is essential that lost fluids are replaced. In fact, in many cases this is the only recommended treatment for curing rotavirus. The patient has to recover the salts and minerals lost through vomiting, diarrhea and fever caused by this virus. Therefore you should:
- Drink water frequently in little sips
- Consume isotonic drinks because their mineral content is ideal for better patient recovery
- Juices are also a great choice thanks to their sugar content. Avoid acidic fruit as the stomach will be very sensitive
- Whey is another excellent choice, especially for oral consumption. It is sold in pharmacies and is ideal for little ones
On many occasions drugs to control vomiting are prescribed to cure rotavirus. It is very important that the patient is fed to give them some energy but it should be administered as a liquid or with soft food. In this way a sensitive stomach will be able to tolerate them without running the risk of new bouts of vomiting.
Chicken soup, broths, creamed vegetables, porridge, jelly, white rice and light, lean meat like chicken and turkey are excellent options. It is important that although patients with rotavirus usually do not want to eat, you insist that they at least eat in small quantities because this will help them to recover.
It is important to remember that, as with any disease that affects the stomach, special care should be taken to avoid greasy, heavy or spicy food. They should follow a light diet until the patient feels better.
At home the whole family should boost hygiene measures to avoid possible infection. You should always wash your hands before and after eating, after using the toilet and after coming into contact with the person who is ill, as this virus spreads easily, especially from contact with objects with the saliva of the infected person.
Normally in cases of rotavirus you see a good improvement in a few days if these recommendations and your doctor's instructions are followed. However, if despite treatment they continue with frequent vomiting, diarrhea, high fever and convulsions, it is important to take the patient to the emergency room in a hospital for a comprehensive check-up and, if necessary, they may need to be hospitalized to become stable.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to How to Treat Rotavirus in Infants, we recommend you visit our Diseases & secondary effects category.
