Daily Health Advices

Treatment

There is no antiviral medication to treat infection with rotavirus. Antibiotics do not treat the disease because they fight bacteria and not viruses.

Rotavirus infection can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea. This can lead to dehydration (loss of body fluids). Infants, toddlers, seniors and people with other illnesses are most at risk of dehydration during rotavirus infection.

Signs and symptoms of dehydration in children and adults include:

- Decreased urination
- Dry mouth and throat
- Feeling dizzy when standing

A dehydrated child may also cry without tears, or very few, and is unusually sleepy or restless.

Dehydration can lead to other serious complications. Severe dehydration may require hospitalization to administer intravenous fluid therapy (fluids given directly to the patient through a vein). The best way to protect against dehydration is to drink plenty of fluids (oral rehydration therapy). Liquids work best for this purpose are fluids or oral rehydration solutions (ORS) *.

Intense hydration can be a serious problem. If you think you or someone you are caring for is severely dehydrated, contact your doctor.

Vaccine protection against rotavirus

There are two vaccines against rotavirus. Both are administered by mouth (orally) and both are highly effective in preventing severe rotavirus infection in infants and young children (85-98% in the original clinical studies).

- RotaTeq ® has been used since 2006. Infants should receive three doses of vaccine (at 2 months, 4 months and 6 months of age).
- Rotarix ® has been used since 2008. Infants should receive two doses of vaccine (at 2 and 4 months of age).

The first dose of rotavirus vaccine can be given from 6 weeks old and must be given before the baby is 15 weeks.

Children should receive all doses of rotavirus vaccine before the age of 8 months of age.

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