Rotavirus disease is a very contagious disease that clinically manifests as diarrhoea. Before the vaccine, almost every child used to get infected with this virus by the age of 5 years. 

Even though they can be pretty intense, they can be managed at home with proper rehydration techniques. 

In this article, we have discussed some of the important aspects of rotavirus and its management.

Rotavirus Disease is commonly known as gastroenteritis, in which the stomach and intestines are inflammation. This gastrointestinal infection is highly contagious. 

The incubation period for rotavirus is 2 to 3 days, after which the symptoms occur gradually.

Rotavirus Disease is majorly diagnosed among kids between winter and spring. Before the vaccine for rotavirus, it was the leading cause of severe diarrhoea in small babies and infants. 

CDC states that with an effective vaccination program, 40,000 to 50,000 hospitalisations have been prevented among kids every year.

Adults can also get affected by rotavirus, but that is unlikely. However, the following group of adult people have a high risk of getting rotavirus disease:

• People above the age of 65.
• Stay near children having rotavirus. 
• Having a compromised immune system, such as in AIDS.

The main mode of transmission of rotavirus is through the faecal-oral route and direct contact with the infected. Due to its stable nature in the environment, it can also be transmitted if one consumes contaminated food or water.

Some of the most common symptoms after a rotavirus infection are:

• Watery stool. 
• Fever. 
• Vomiting. 
• Loss of appetite. 
• Nausea.

The young children can suffer from dehydration due to severe diarrhoea and vomiting which can be life-threatening for them. Therefore, seek medical help if you notice the following symptoms in your kid:

• Fewer wet diapers or peeing less frequently. 
• Cold skin. 
• Few or no tears when crying. 
• Lethargy and fatigue. 
• Sunken eyes. 
• Dizziness and inability to stand for a long time. 
• Dry mouth.

There is no specific cause other than poor hygiene. So, you should maintain proper feeding hygiene along with washing hands. If you have a rotavirus-infected person at home, try to isolate their utensils unless they have completely recovered.

Several infections cause diarrhoea; rotavirus infection is mainly diagnosed based on symptoms and physical examination. However, sometimes, they may prescribe a stool examination, which is less likely. 

If your child has to go for a stool test, the lab technician will provide you with a sterile container wherein you have to collect some of your child’s stool.

No specific treatment regimen is followed for any rotavirus infection. The infection gets resolved on its own within a span of 3 days to one week. The main thing to manage in a rotavirus infection is dehydration. For this, you need to drink plenty of water and fluids to replace the lost fluid from your body.

However, if your child’s condition is not that serious, you may be able to manage it at home by taking the following measures:

• Avoid giving your child larger meals, rather, feed them smaller and more frequently. 
• Provide enough fluid to your kid. 
• If things get more serious, use electrolyte replacements. 
• Ensure that your child gets adequate rest. 
• Maintain follow-up as asked by your physician.

The first and foremost thing to do is wash your hands properly, specifically after using the restroom or changing your kid’s diaper. However, handwashing alone cannot guarantee 100% prevention, and sanitisers have very little or no effect on the rotavirus. 

Therefore, WHO has approved two vaccines that should be administered to infants worldwide to prevent the infection, those two vaccines are:

• Rotarix: Rotarix is available in liquid form and is given orally to kids from 2 months to 4 months. 
• Rotateq: This vaccine is given orally in 3 subsequent doses at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. This vaccine is not for adults.

Note: The rotavirus vaccine can induce intussusception in kids therefore, it is contraindicated to kids having a history of intussusception.

Children from 3 months to 3 years have a high risk of getting rotavirus infection. This is common in kids who spend a lot of time in a childcare setting with several other kids. 

However, old people and adults can also get rotavirus infection if they stay near kids having the same. 

Children tend to dehydrate much faster than adults and, hence, can result in very serious complications. Seek emergency medical help if you notice something unusual or you notice severe dehydration in your child.