Rotavirus is a dangerous virus for children! recognize the signs of infection

The word rotavirus may still sound familiar to the ear. Yes, not many people know that rotavirus is a type of virus that can cause gastrointestinal infections. This virus is in fact the main cause of diarrhea in children.

In fact, according to the Indonesian Pediatric Association, rotavirus diarrhea is one of the causes of high child mortality in Indonesia. Indeed, this viral infection can be deadly, so the Ministry of Health advises parents to give their babies the rotavirus vaccine. Actually, what is the rotavirus like? What happens if your little one gets rotavirus? What are the signs?

Rotavirus is a contagious and dangerous virus

Reported on the CDC website, the center for disease control and prevention in the United States, rotavirus is a contagious virus that can cause inflammation of the stomach and intestines.

Rotavirus is highly contagious, especially in children, causing diarrhea, nausea, fever, stomach pain, and dehydration. Mostly, the virus that causes diarrhea will infect babies and children under 3 years.

Even so, anyone can actually get rotavirus infection, including adults. However, the difference between the symptoms of rotavirus infection that occurs in adults is not as severe as in children.

Unfortunately, rotavirus diarrhea cannot be treated with medication, even children who have received the rotavirus vaccine may still have an infection.

However, it is true that children who have been vaccinated against rotavirus will experience symptoms that are much milder than those who are not vaccinated at all.

This is how rotavirus infection spreads

It should be remembered that rotavirus is a very contagious and contagious infectious disease. This virus is initially found in the feces of an infected person. Even though at that time the person has not felt any symptoms, usually he or she can transmit the rotavirus to other people and the surrounding environment.

So, so that it doesn't spread everywhere, you must always maintain personal hygiene. Simple habits such as washing hands with soap and running water after going to the bathroom or before eating, can actually cut the spread of this rotavirus diarrhea.

Unfortunately, many people ignore the habit of washing hands, even though after cleaning the dirt, rotavirus can stick to the hands. From your hand, the virus will move the object or place you touch. Well, from there the spread of the rotavirus began.

Rotavirus infection is easily transmitted if:

Do not wash your hands with soap and then touch your mouth after going to the bathroom
Holding an object that has been contaminated with rotavirus, then the hand goes into the mouth
Eat food that has been contaminated with rotavirus

Because of its very easy distribution, rotavirus could actually be everywhere, such as:

On the stationery
On the food
Sinks and countertops
Toy
cellphone
Cooking ware
Water

Signs and symptoms of rotavirus infection

Symptoms of rotavirus infection can appear within 2 days of exposure to the virus. The most common symptom is severe diarrhea in children. Rotavirus diarrhea can last 3-8 days. In addition, some other conditions that can occur when your little one is infected with rotavirus are:

Gag
Decreased appetite
Black stool
Feels so tired
Fever
Dehydration (loss of a lot of body fluids)
Abdominal pain

In adults, these symptoms are also experienced but to a much lesser degree. In fact, in some cases of rotavirus infection in adults, no symptoms appear at that time.

Rotavirus infection treatment

Basically there is no specific drug to treat rotavirus infection, but doctors will treat it based on the symptoms that appear. For example, rotavirus diarrhea will cause sufferers to become dehydrated.

Now, because dehydration is very susceptible for toddlers, children and the elderly, doctors will treat and prevent these things from happening. Therefore, apart from medicine, one of the treatments for rotavirus is to drink lots of water, this cannot be replaced with medicine. If the dehydration that occurs is severe, it requires fluid intake directly into the veins through an IV.