Children of primary preschool age have always been at risk for many diseases. A fragile body and overly active behavior make them vulnerable to various viral diseases. And one of them is rotavirus intestinal infection in children, the treatment of which is aimed more at eliminating the symptoms and consequences than at fighting the pathogen.
So what is rotavirus infection?
The "culprit" of the disease is a virus belonging to the Reoviridae family, the genus Rotavirus, which entered the human body with food, water or contact-household means. Of the 9 types of rotaviruses, divided by antigenic properties, 6 are pathogenic for humans, while the remaining three affect only animals. The incubation period of the disease is 2-3 days, but in a child it can last no more than 12 hours. Actively multiplying and accumulating in the epithelium of the oral cavity, the virus "descends" into the small intestine and destroys its mature cells. The consequence of thisimpact is a violation of the ability of the digestive system to absorb nutrients and carbohydrates, which then enter the large intestine unsplit, provoking an increase in osmotic pressure. That is why rotovirus intestinal infection in children is supposed to be treated to prevent dehydration of the patient.
Rotavirus risk groups
Due to its stability in the external environment, anyone can "catch" rotavirus, regardless of age and gender. However, in an adult with a stable immune system, the disease can occur with mild symptoms, characteristic stomach upset, or even without them. Also, according to the statistics of pediatricians, rotovirus intestinal infection in infants is very rare, since during the first 12 months of life, the immunity received from the mother acts. The main risk group is the age category of preschoolers and children of primary school age.
Symptoms of disease
Rotavirus infection received its second name "intestinal flu" because in most cases the first symptoms of the disease are inflammation of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract and fever in the child's body. Misdiagnosing the disease and not knowing that this is how a rotovirus intestinal infection manifests itself in children, mothers begin treatment of their children, as with ordinary acute respiratory infections. A couple of hours after the first symptoms appear in the childrepeated repeated vomiting and diarrhea begins. The baby, actively losing fluid, becomes lethargic and drowsy. This painful condition can also be accompanied by a dry, frequent cough, which provokes additional bouts of vomiting.
How to treat intestinal flu
This disease is diagnosed in stationary conditions, where, in principle, doctors recommend treating it. As a rule, in a medical institution, a child is prescribed antibiotic therapy (which, in principle, is not needed, since rotavirus is not sensitive to it) in combination with drugs to restore the body's water balance. Most often, hospitals give third-generation cephalosporin antibiotics, which have a good bactericidal effect. For example, the drug "Ceftriaxone" or its more expensive analogues, such as the drug "Loraxone" and others, are used. To treat diarrhea and prevent the attachment of a secondary infection, the drug "Nifuroxacid" is used. If a child with rotavirus has repeated and profuse vomiting, the baby will be given an injection of Cerucal, which can be repeated after a couple of hours. Depending on the weight of the patient, the attending physician will prescribe the dosage and medication "Smekta" or "Enterol", which will help to cope with diarrhea. Starting from the first minutes of treatment, one should not forget that the child loses a lot of fluid, so its amount should be systematically updated. For this, the drug "Regidron" or electrolyte solutions, alkaline bottled water are suitable. They can be alternated, giving the child a drink every 10-15 minutes in small doses.
Buteven after the rotovirus intestinal infection in children has been completely eradicated, treatment aimed at restoring the intestinal flora should continue. To do this, small patients are prescribed drugs based on probiotic microorganisms that will help the intestines restore their basic functions.
Can I treat rotavirus at home?
The decision to treat rotavirus at home should be made by the parents in consultation with the doctor. Everything will depend on the condition of the child. In addition, the household of a sick patient should have information about the symptoms of a rotovirus intestinal infection, how its manifestations should be treated in order to properly care for their baby. Taking responsibility for the life and he alth of a child infected with rotavirus, parents, in addition to drug treatment, will need to make every effort to restore the patient's water balance. For this baby, it will be necessary to drink fractional fluids every 10-15 minutes, even during daytime and nighttime sleep. Otherwise, hospitalization cannot be avoided, because in the absence of frequent drinking, intoxication of the child's body will lead to the most negative consequences.
