Tolfi Oow

Magazine for wellness, fitness and health

Rotaviruses: causes, symptoms and treatment

Babies and young children often contract rotavirus infection. You can read here how the viruses are transmitted, what signs of illness occur and what you can do about them.

What are rotaviruses?

How is rotavirus transmitted?

What are the symptoms of intestinal infection?

How long is the incubation period and how long are you contagious?

Which people are particularly susceptible to the infection?

How are the nasty pathogens treated?

obligation to report

How can you protect yourself from rotavirus?

What are rotaviruses?

Rotavirus is the most common cause of gastrointestinal disease , particularly in infants and young children. The viruses are highly contagious, which is why many children up to the age of 5 years contract the infection. Protection against the pathogen develops in the first few years of life, but this does not last a lifetime. Multiple infections can therefore not be ruled out. In the months between February and April, the number of rotavirus infections increases. On the following pages you can read how you can protect yourself and your children from intestinal infections.

How is rotavirus transmitted?

Rotavirus transmission occurs in two ways. On the one hand, the viruses can be passed on from person to person, this usually takes place via a smear infection . Those affected suffer from massive diarrhea, which causes the pathogens to be excreted. Even the smallest traces of a bowel movement can be passed on to the hands. The viruses get into the human mouth via the hands and further into the digestive tract.

However, the rotaviruses can also adhere to contaminated objects such as door handles, toilets, handrails and fittings. In this way, too, the pathogens get through the hands into the mouth and further into the digestive tract. Also possible, but rather rare, is infection via contaminated water or food infected by the pathogen. In water, the virus has a chance of surviving for several weeks, in dried stool they are contagious for several days.

Pediatrician Dr. Michael Horn answers the most important questions about rotaviruses

In an interview, pediatrician Dr. Michael Horn, what a rotavirus infection means and why vaccination can make sense.

What are the symptoms of intestinal infection?

If you are ill with rotavirus, it can suddenly lead to watery diarrhea , abdominal pain and vomiting. There may also be traces of mucus in the stool. In addition to the typical symptoms of a gastrointestinal disease, a cold , cough and slight fever are also possible. The symptoms usually subside on their own after two to six days.

The disease is usually more severe in babies and young children. Due to the strong diarrhea and the unpleasant vomiting, they quickly lose a lot of body fluids. Circulatory problems, dizziness and dehydration are usually the result. If the fluid loss is not compensated for in them, the condition can quickly become life-threatening. Typical signs of dehydration in babies and young children include: high fever, a dry mouth and tongue, dry diapers for three hours or more, and when gently pinched and then released, the skin does not smooth back to its normal state. If you suspect dehydration in your child, you should urgently consult a doctor. You can improve the electrolyte balance, for example, with broths or soups that contain sodium,

How long is the incubation period and how long are you contagious?

The incubation period is usually one to three days. Anyone you come into contact with during the acute stage of the disease and even after the symptoms have subsided can become infected . As long as you excrete the pathogen in your bowel movements , the virus can be transmitted to others. Normally, this phase lasts about eight days. Exceptional cases are premature babies and people with a weakened immune system, in which the virus excretion can last longer.

Which people are particularly susceptible to the infection?

Rotavirus infection can affect anyone. The symptoms of the disease and their severity and intensity vary from person to person. Infants and young children up to the age of two years are particularly likely to contract the infection. A severe course of the disease also occurs more frequently in the very young, as they are particularly sensitive to loss of salt and fluids. They are therefore often treated in hospital if they are infected with rotaviruses.

Elderly people and people with a weakened immune system are also particularly at risk of becoming infected with rotavirus. In most cases, however, the disease is much milder in adults than in babies, small children, people with a weakened immune system or the elderly. The reason for this lies in the infections that have already gone through, which means that a certain natural immune protection has developed in adults.

How are the nasty pathogens treated?

Once the doctor has diagnosed rotavirus, the following points are important for successful treatment:

  • There is no causal treatment against rotaviruses . Antibiotics are ineffective against the disease caused by viruses. You should also refrain from constipating drugs, they can even prolong the disease instead of curing it.
  • Bed rest is the number one thing to stick to now. This is not only the best for you, but also for your fellow human beings, so you don’t infect anyone either.
  • Drink plenty of tap water or tea to avoid dehydration. Adults can try dehydration with something called an electrolyte replacement solution from a pharmacy. Diluted herbal teas are suitable for infants and young children. If the water loss is too high, your child should be treated in the hospital. If you are still breastfeeding your baby, you can continue to do so with peace of mind.
  • Easily digestible food with sufficient salt intake is now on the menu. These include broth and clear soups. Do not prepare meals for friends and family when you are ill yourself.
  • If diarrhea or vomiting or fever lasts longer than two to three days, it is advisable to see a doctor in the case of weakened or elderly people, pregnant women and small children.
  • Pay special attention to sanitary and hand hygiene throughout the course of the disease. Hygiene should not be neglected even after the symptoms have subsided, because the pathogens are still excreted days later with the bowel movement.

obligation to report

In general, the regulations of the Infection Protection Act apply. The intestinal infection must be reported to the health department at the latest 24 hours after diagnosis. If the affected person works with food or in facilities with community catering, the sick person must be reported. If the person concerned is affected by two or more similar diseases, a reporting obligation must also be considered. The patient may work no earlier than two days after the symptoms have subsided. The doctor treating you or the responsible health authority will decide on the exact time.

If children under the age of six fall ill with the contagious infection or if there is a suspicion of an intestinal infection, they may return to kindergarten or school at the earliest two days after the symptoms have subsided. Here, too, the responsible doctor or the health department decides. It is the parents’ duty to inform the community facility about the illness. A medical certificate is usually not required for this.

Heads of community facilities such as kindergartens or schools that look after children up to the age of 6 are obliged to notify the responsible health authority directly as soon as rotaviruses are suspected in the facility or are in circulation. The risk of small children becoming seriously ill with rotaviruses , is enormously high. Prophylactic action can protect.

How can you protect yourself from rotavirus?

How to prevent infection:

  • Vaccination: The Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) advocates oral vaccination for infants against rotavirus. This should take place from the age of 6 weeks and at the latest by the 12th week of life. Depending on the vaccine, two or three doses spaced at least four weeks apart are required to provide full protection. The rotavirus vaccination should be completed when the baby is between 16 and 22 weeks old, or at the latest by the age of 32 weeks.
  • After the first dose of the vaccine, one section of the intestine may fold into another — also known as intussusception. However, this only occurs in very rare cases. In infants, the risk of an invagination of the intestinal section increases with age, so timely vaccination is an advantage. If your vaccinated infant experiences side effects such as vomiting, high-pitched screaming with stretching of the legs or abdominal pain, you should consult a pediatrician and have your child examined.
  • Hand hygiene: Make sure that both the hands of the little ones and your hands are washed regularly with soap and water. You should wash your hands thoroughly before preparing food, after changing diapers and after each visit to the toilet. The sooner your children learn to wash their hands regularly, the better it is for their health.
  • In addition, it is important that everyone uses their own towels and toiletries.
  • Towels, washcloths and bed linen should be changed at regular intervals and washed at at least 70°.
  • Objects that you come into contact with every day, such as door handles or fittings, should be cleaned daily so that possible bacteria and viruses have no chance of surviving.
  • Conscious handling of food is also important. Unlike bacteria, rotaviruses do not like heat, they are killed at at least 70°C.
Prev post Tips to reduce sugar
Next post With food supplements to new strength

Crystal Waston MD

Crystal Waston has a degree in Cross Media Production and Publishing. At vital.de she gives everyday tips and deals with topics related to women's health, sport, and nutrition.

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top