Symptoms and treatment of rotavirus infection in infants

Rotavirus is capable of causing a rather dangerous disease. Very sensitive to infestation with these germs are babies of infancy. This article will tell you about what symptoms this disease has and what is the treatment of rotavirus infection in infants.

According to statistics, this infectious disease most often sick children aged from 6 months to two years. It is believed that up to six months the baby is still immune to this infection, but in the future it gradually weakens.

The first signs of the disease do not develop immediately. Viral infection has a specific incubation period. During this time, rotaviruses accumulate in the infected organism and “get ready” to have their effect. The incubation period of this infection usually lasts from several hours to a couple of days. After graduation, the infant has adverse symptoms.

One of the characteristic symptoms of infection is fever. It usually grows pretty quickly. By the end of the first day since the onset of the disease, its numbers can reach 38-38.5 degrees Celsius.

Against the background of such febrile the baby feels very bad. The child becomes lethargic, inactive. The baby has a significantly reduced appetite. Against the background of high temperature, vomiting may occur. Febrile can also be accompanied by fever. The skin of a child can change color - be bright red first and then pale.

In some cases, to reduce the high body temperature of the baby is quite difficult. Reception of antipyretic drugs does not lead to a quick positive effect. The body temperature of the diseased baby is normalized only at 4-5 days from the onset of the disease.

The second no less characteristic symptom of rotavirus infection is stool disorder. It is no coincidence that this disease in the people is also called intestinal flu. Diarrhea is a classic symptom for this infection. The baby’s stool becomes watery, multiple.

Often, diarrhea is accompanied by the appearance of pain in the abdomen. A newborn baby cannot yet say this to his parents in words. To express his own discomfort, he uses another “communication system” - crying. The behavior of the sick child immediately changes.

Feeling a pain in the abdomen, the baby is crying heavily and heavily. Attempts to take the baby in your arms and reassure often do not lead to a positive result. Attempts to touch the tummy can lead to increased pain, which is manifested by increased crying.

Not all cases of rotavirus infection start in the same way. It also happens that the first symptoms are very similar to the flu or ARVI. In this case, a sick baby first develops a runny nose and cough. In this case, nasal breathing is difficult, the child begins to breathe through the mouth.

Redness in the throat is one of the rather characteristic symptoms. Rotavirus usually affects the back of the throat. The inflamed area of ​​the pharynx acquires a bright red color, the mucous membranes look swollen and loose.

The baby may also be bothered by a cough. It is usually dry. Phlegm usually occurs when a secondary bacterial flora is attached to a rotavirus infection.In this case, the child begins to depart already light yellow sputum, and the general condition worsens. Adverse catarrhal symptoms usually last 6-8 days after the onset of the disease.

In babies up to 1 year old, rotavirus infection can last longer. The period of preservation of adverse symptoms also significantly affects the initial state of the child. Weakened babies get sick, as a rule, a little longer.

In very young children, rotavirus infection can occur and is quite atypical. In this case, the child does not develop diarrhea. In this clinical variant, only intestinal colic occurs, but there is no stool disorder. Also, the baby's appetite decreases, it is poorly applied to the mother's breast for feeding.

With this clinical variant of the disease, it is difficult to suspect the disease.

The difficulty of diagnosis lies in the fact that it is quite easy to confuse rotavirus infection with eating disorders. Toxicoinfections may develop in infants at the time of receiving the first complementary foods. In this case, a differential diagnosis is required, which only a doctor can do.

Norovirus infection can also lead to the development of similar symptoms. The cause of it are noroviruses. Norovirus along with rotavirus are quite common causes of intestinal infections in babies.

The similarity of these infections is quite high. For a long time, pediatricians made only one general diagnosis of “rotavirus infection”, implying at the same time possible infection with both rotaviruses and norovirus.

Rotavirus infection is a viral disease called “dirty hand disease”. Rotaviruses are perfectly preserved on the skin. Prevent infection is possible, only remembering the regular observance of the rules of personal hygiene. In time, unwashed hands can cause the development of the disease. It is important for parents to remember that Before tactile contact with the child, they should wash their hands thoroughly.

Babies up to 10-12 months quite often become ill with rotavirus infection after eating spoiled food. The fact is that rotaviruses are well preserved in fermented milk products. Microbes can remain in the refrigerator.

Infection with rotavirus infection can also occur through airborne droplets. In this case, viruses from the nasopharynx of an infected parent get to the baby. Infection in such a situation develops pretty quickly.

Family outbreaks of rotavirus infection are also not uncommon. From a sick person, as if by a chain, other family members begin to become infected. If there are several babies in a family, then, as a rule, they quickly fall ill.

On average, rotavirus infection in babies lasts about 4-8 days. During this time, the acute period of the disease completely passes and recovery occurs (recovery to recovery).

It is important to note that Currently, specific therapy for this infection has not been developed.. The main goal of treatment is the prevention of dangerous complications, which sometimes develop as a result of diarrhea. Also during treatment it is very important to normalize the temperature of the child’s body and to cope with the effects of the intoxication syndrome.

Dr. Komarovsky believes that when rotavirus infection Rehydration is very important - replenishment of water-salt metabolism in the children's body. With frequent loose stools, the baby loses quite a lot of water, as well as electrolytes dissolved in it. This can provoke electrolyte disorders in the child, as well as abnormalities in the heart and brain. Rehydration is used to prevent these dangerous complications.

To restore the general condition, doctors recommend giving boiled water to ill children. The total amount of additional fluid injected is calculated by the pediatrician after the child is examined. To calculate the required amount of water that the baby needs for rehydration, the pediatrician always takes into account the age of the baby and the weight of his body.

When introducing water, it is very important not to provoke vomiting in a baby. To do this, you should not give your baby too much liquid at once at once. It is better to divide the required volume into several parts. In this case, the risk of vomiting is reduced.

The best drink to rehydrate at home is ordinary boiled water. Babies who already drink dried fruit compotes can also be given. However, this should be done carefully. In this case, it is necessary to look after the individual reaction of the child. In some babies, fruit compote may contribute to loose stools. In this case, it should be removed and leave ordinary water.

In severe clinical situations, when the degree of dehydration of the baby is very large, it is impossible to carry out rehydration at home. In this case, the child is hospitalized in a hospital, where he will be given special medicinal solutions to compensate for the water-electrolyte balance through droppers. Typically, such situations arise when the baby has a very high body temperature, as well as indomitable vomiting or diarrhea.

Febrile is a special signal from a child’s body that it is actively fighting infection. If the body temperature has not yet reached 38 degrees, then it should not be reduced. In this case, you can intervene in the work of immunity and slow down the process of natural healing.

It is important to remember that A child's very high body temperature may trigger febrile seizures. In order to avoid this, special antipyretics are prescribed to the baby. To normalize body temperature in children's practice, syrups containing ibuprofen, such as Nurofen, are often prescribed. Rectal suppressive suppositories will also help bring down the heat.

If the baby has a fever, his body can be rubbed with plain water. Water temperature for this procedure should be comfortable. Wipe one part of the body after another. After processing one area should be well blotted with a soft towel.

During these abrasions, be sure to monitor the temperature in the nursery. It should not be below 20 degrees. Also check whether the windows and vents are closed in the nursery at this time. Any draft during the procedure can cause hypothermia.

If the baby has intestinal colic, then it causes him pronounced discomfort. The baby starts to cry, can touch his tummy. Some babies try to lie more on their backs, since coups can provoke an increase in pain in them.

Spasmolytics can cope with intestinal colic. These funds are selected individually, taking into account the age of the baby. One of these drugs is Riabal. For very young patients, it is discharged in the form of a syrup. This drug not only helps to cope with intestinal colic, but also reduces vomiting.

The need for the appointment of any intestinal antiseptics is determined by the attending physician. Basically, these funds are prescribed only if the sick baby has signs of acceding secondary bacterial infection. In such a situation, the scheme of treatment is made individually, taking into account the general well-being of the child.

Weakened children may need immunostimulants or immunomodulators. These funds affect the work of the immune system, "forcing" it to work more efficiently. “Tsitovir” is often used as such a drug in pediatric practice.

Babies who are breastfed should continue to give breast milk. At the same time, it is important to “not overfeed” the child. Too large portions can provoke vomiting in the crumbs. Feeding should be more frequent, but smaller portions.

Babies who are bottle-fed should be converted to non-dairy formulas for the duration of the illness. Such a diet will not provoke an increase in stool.

Today, fortunately, the specific prevention of rotavirus infection has been developed. To do this, children are vaccinated against rotavirus. Modern vaccines “Rotatek” and “Rotarix” allow forming sufficiently strong immunity in children.

These drugs are drops, which are given to babies orally. The vaccination scheme includes two vaccinations with an interval of at least 40 days.

Dr. Komarovsky will tell all about rotavirus in the next video.