Rotavirus is a common cause of diarrhea in babies and young children. According to the Nemours Foundation, the virus causes about 3 million cases of diarrhea and sends 55,000 children under the age of 5 to the hospital every year in the United States. In addition to watery diarrhea, rotavirus may cause nausea, fever, vomiting and abdominal cramps. Some children may also develop a runny nose and cough. It is crucial to treat the symptoms of rotavirus promptly to prevent potentially serious dehydration.
Instructions
Treat Rotavirus
1. Keep infected children out of school and daycare. Rotavirus is highly contagious and often occurs in widespread outbreaks during the winter and spring. Frequent hand washing is essential to prevent the spread of the disease and to prevent re-infection.
2. Offer your child frequent sips of water or an oral rehydration solution to prevent dehydration and reduce fever. Sodas and fruit drinks should be avoided, as these beverages contain a lot of sugar and may make diarrhea worse.
3. Feed your child the BRAT diet, unless otherwise instructed by your doctor. The BRAT diet consists of Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast, and is effective at reducing the frequency of diarrhea, according to the Mayo Clinic.
4. Continue breastfeeding your baby, but do not force him to nurse. Breastfed infants who continue to nurse while sick are considerably less likely to become dehydrated than formula-fed infants are.
5. Give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever, if needed. Never give aspirin to a child due to the risk of developing Reye's Syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal complication.
6. Watch for signs of dehydration, such as thirst, restlessness, lethargy, irritability, sunken eyes, a dry mouth, dry skin and decreased urination. Dehydration may develop rapidly, especially in infants, and requires urgent medical attention.
7. Admit your child to the hospital for treatment with IV fluids if he becomes moderately or severely dehydrated. IV fluids will restore your child's natural fluid and salt levels.
8. Have your child vaccinated against rotavirus. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends infants be given the vaccine, called RotoTeq, at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. Vaccination against rotavirus prevents 75 percent of all cases of infection, and as much as 98 percent of severe cases.
Tags: your child, against rotavirus, BRAT diet, Treat Rotavirus