About this topic
Rotavirus is a germ that often causes watery, loose stools. Children who have this illness may throw up, have a fever, belly pain, and loose stools. The germs can easily be passed to others by your child or by using things your child has touched. ‚
The signs of rotavirus most often go away after 3 to 8 days without any treatment. Getting your child to drink enough water to prevent fluid loss is the best treatment. Sometimes, children have to go to the hospital to get extra fluid by a tube placed in the vein. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask the doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what to do to care for your child.
- Give your child small amounts of fluid every 15 to 30 minutes. This is better than having your child drink a large amount at one time. Good fluids to give are oral electrolyte solutions that you can buy at most supermarkets or pharmacies.
- Ask your child to keep drinking. This may help keep your child out of the hospital. Let your child take small sips. Give this drink until the loose stools or throwing up stops.
- If your child throws up while eating, let your child rest for 15 to 20 minutes, then try feeding again.
- Avoid sharing your childs food and drinks.
- Keep your child away from others until the throwing up or loose stools have stopped.
- Keep your child away from those who are sick.
- Follow good hygiene practices. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 15 seconds. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers also work to kill the virus. This is very important when:
- Caring for your child
- Preparing foods
- Cleaning your home
- After bathroom use or changing diapers
- Do not give any drugs to decrease the loose stools.
What follow-up care is needed?
The doctor may ask you make visits to the office to check on your childs progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may not need to order drugs for your child. But sometimes, drugs may be given if signs are very bad or last for a few days or more. The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Fight an infection
- Lower fever
- Treat an upset stomach or throwing up
Will physical activity be limited?
Your child may lack energy even for light activities because of belly pain and fever. Make sure your child gets lots of rest. Your child may not be able to go to school or daycare until the loose stools and throwing up have stopped for 24 hours. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
- Give your baby formula or breast milk. Milk is OK for older children. If you give your child formula, do not dilute the formula. It may make diarrhea worse. If you breastfeed, no changes are needed.
- Your childs doctor may encourage a soft diet. Give your child soups, rice, noodles, cooked cereal, and pureed fruits and vegetables.
- Avoid giving your child fatty and sugary foods such as cakes, chocolates, ice cream, and take out foods.
- Avoid giving your child sweetened or sugary drinks, soft drinks, and sport drinks. They may make your child's loose stools worse.
- Do not give your child coffee or tea. These can make your child dehydrated.
What problems could happen?
- Loss of too much fluid
- Hospital stay if your child cannot drink enough
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Wash your childs hands often.
- Keep food areas clean.
- Do not share your child's items, such as eating utensils, glasses, plates, or towels.
- Have your child vaccinated. Ask your child's doctor what vaccine against rotavirus is the best for your child.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher
- Signs of fluid loss. These include soft spot on a babys head looks sunken, few or no tears when crying, dark-colored urine or only a small amount of urine for more than 6 to 8 hours, dry mouth, cracked lips, dry skin, sunken eyes, lack of energy, feeling very sleepy.
- Your child is younger than 6 months old and has loose stools and throwing up
- Is throwing up or has lots of loose stools that last for more than a few days
- Throws up blood, has mucus or bloody loose stools
- Is not able to keep fluids down
- Has very bad belly pain
- Your child is not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or is feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you about your child. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my childs condition.
- I can tell you how often I should try to give my child fluids to drink and good kinds of fluids to give.
- I can tell you what I can do to help avoid passing the infection to others.
- I can tell you what I will do if my child has trouble keeping fluids down.
Where can I learn more?
Center for Disease Control and Prevention ‚
http://www.cdc.gov/rotavirus/about/index.html ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/stomach/rotavirus.html ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚