How to treat rotavirus infection in children? Possible consequences for the child

Doctors believe that the most commonEarth disease in children - rotavirus infection. According to the WHO, 125 million babies on the planet are infected with rotavirus every day! How much does this germ infect adults? No such data. However, regarding children statistics is sad. The same WHO reports that every year 500 thousand children under the age of 5 die from complications caused by rotavirus. The microbe is especially dangerous for babies.

Взрослым ротавирус особого вреда не причиняет, because their body is stronger and able to resist the pathogenic activity of the microorganism. In the case of stool disorder, many adults tend to consider this a consequence of poor-quality food, they do not associate such a symptom with an infection, do not treat it, continue to do their daily activities, go to work, are among people, not knowing that they are a source of a dangerous disease.

У детей ротавирусная инфекция проявляется гораздо brighter and more severe symptoms, since the child's body is not yet ready to cope with toxic substances that microbes secrete as a result of their vital activity. Therefore, this disease is often called childhood. There are rules on what to do when infected with rotavirus, what medicines to give to the child, what complications can be caused by this disease. Information about this is presented in our article.

We will also consider what should be the diet for rotavirus infection in children, what can be done for a sick child and what cannot be, how to prevent the disease.

Briefly about the microorganism

For the Russian person the word "rotavirus"automatically associated with the mouth. But "company" means not part of the face, but "wheel" in translation from Latin. The microbe was so named because it has a round shape that looks like a wheel with a clear rim and short spokes. In diameter, it does not exceed 75 nm. Rotavirus is surrounded by three layers of proteins (capsid), so it can not harm the gastric juice, intestinal enzymes and many antiviral drugs.

Once in the intestine, the microbe invades the limb.enterocytes located on the cilia of the intestine. These structures perform very important functions - the digestion of food, the absorption of nutrients, the release of enzymes necessary for splitting food fragments. Being introduced into the enterocyte, the microbe destroys it. Therefore, rotavirus infection in children is accompanied by a sharp violation of digestive activity.

Microbes multiply at fantastic speeds.However, they release toxins and some substances that cause symptoms similar to colds. For this, rotavirus is often mistakenly called intestinal flu. However, with a cold, he has almost nothing in common.

Ways of infection

В подавляющем большинстве случаев ротавирус is introduced into the body of people like any other intestinal infection, that is, by the fecal-oral route. Rotavirus infection in children is called the disease of dirty hands. Very often, mass infection occurs in kindergartens and other institutions where there is a large accumulation of babies. The rotavirus can get into the child’s mouth, and from there enter the intestines when using toys that have been germinated with microbes, when using household items, if hygiene is not observed, and also when there is close contact with a sick person.

Известный врач Комаровский о ротавирусной infection in children says that it does not matter how often and carefully the mother makes the child wash her hands. It can not with an absolute guarantee to protect against infection. Only vaccination helps. It must be carried out if you plan to go with the child to the sea.

It should be said that rotaviruses are very tenacious.They withstand very high and low temperatures, may long exist in the external environment. Outbreaks of infection often occur during the cold season, which some experts associate with weakening of the body's defenses.

Symptoms

The incubation period of rotavirus infection inchildren can last only one day from the moment of infection. This applies to weakened babies and infants. Why microbes do not manifest immediately about their introduction into the intestine? Because they need to multiply there first. While few enterocytes are destroyed, the child’s digestion is carried out close to the norms, and a small amount of germs does not emit so many toxins so that they can have a strong influence on the functioning of body systems. The stronger the baby and the older it is, the longer the incubation period for rotavirus infection in children. For many of them, it lasts up to five days, and in some cases can last for a week.

In infants up to 6 months of rotavirus infectiondoes not happen, as their mother’s immunity protects them. After six months, he ceases to act. These kids are the most vulnerable to rotavirus, because their digestive system is just beginning to function smoothly, and the body is still very weak.

The disease develops dramatically:

1. The child has diarrhea. Hikes to the pot can be more than 15 times a day.
2. Simultaneously, vomiting opens.
3. There are severe abdominal pain.
4. The temperature rises.
5. There is increased flatulence.
6. The child becomes lethargic, refuses to eat.

Along with the "intestinal" signs of rotavirus infection in children, there are also "cold" symptoms, which often confuses parents.

It:

1. Sore throat, redness.
2. Cough.
3. Runny nose
4. Pain when swallowing.
5. Conjunctivitis.
6. Plaque on the tongue.
7. Inflammation of the lymph nodes.

Speaking about the signs of rotavirus infection in children, the famous pediatrician Komarovsky explains how to distinguish it from other intestinal disorders.

Он говорит, что нужно обращать внимание на consistency cala baby. When infected with rotavirus, fecal masses are always watery, greyish in color and smell very unpleasant, and for other problems with the stool - pasty.

The second sign is that the vomit may have an acetone odor.

With the development of the disease (approximately on the 3rd day), the stool consistency becomes clay-like, gray-yellow in color, and the urine becomes dark in color (as in hepatitis).

In general, the disease occurs with signs of gastroenteritis and enteritis.

Classification

People often ask about how long the rotavirus infection lasts in children. The answer depends on the form of the disease:

1. EasyThe baby's chair becomes more frequent slightly (up to 3-5 times a day), vomiting happens once, the temperature rises no higher than 37.5 degrees. The general condition remains satisfactory, although there is a decrease in appetite and the child’s refusal to play active games. In this form, the disease can last 2-3 days.
2. Average.Diarrhea in a child is observed with moderate intensity (up to 10 times per day). Other signs of the disease: rumbling in the stomach, flatulence, temperature 38 degrees, there are cold symptoms. With the average form of the disease can last up to a week.
3. Тяжелая. Она наблюдается не часто.The symptoms are as follows: temperature 39-40 degrees, incessant vomiting, diarrhea 13-15 times a day, watery stools, abdominal cramps, flu symptoms (cough, runny nose, congestive throat, conjunctivitis), lethargy, dry mucous membranes, rare urination . This form of the disease lasts 10 days or more.

Answering the question about how long a rotavirus infection lasts in children, we should not forget about the recovery period. Its length is from 3 to 7 days.

Dehydration

Doctors explain that infection is not so dangerousrotavirus as its effects. They are the ones that are fatal. Dehydration is the most dangerous consequence of rotavirus infection in a child 3 years or younger. At an older age, the loss of fluid is also a very serious indicator of the child’s condition, but in babies, especially infants, there are more “chances” for this to die. That is why, in infants, home treatment of rotavirus infection is not carried out, it is necessary to put the patient in the hospital. Signs of dehydration:

1. Weakness.
2. Dry mucous membranes.
3. Crying without tears.
4. Reducing the number of acts of urination.
5. Reducing the amount of urine. In infants, this can be determined by the filling of diapers.
6. Sunken eyes.
7. Pointed nose.
8. Loose skin
9. Tachycardia.
10. Thirst.
11. Low pressure.
12. Thick blood (a sign for doctors).

Such complications are observed not only in infants, but also in weak, very thin children, especially in those with a history of kidney, heart and intestinal pathologies.

Other complications

Rotavirus infection in a child 2 years old and younger (who is very difficult to get to drink a lot of fluids) without emergency measures can give the following complications:

1. Pneumonia.
2. Nervous system disorders.
3. Bacterial intestinal infections.
4. Convulsions.

In the hospital, children immediately put droppers to replenish their water-salt balance.

Pneumonia is a bacterial disease.It joins a rotavirus infection due to the weakening of the protective function of the lungs due to the loss of electrolytes, as well as when the blood thickens. The main external sign of this complication is a very high temperature. Further, the diagnosis is confirmed by laboratory tests (blood test) and X-ray results. With signs of pneumonia, the child should be urgently hospitalized.

Seizures are also due to dehydration.Most often they occur at high temperatures. If you do not give the child professional help, he may die due to spasms of the respiratory system.

Diagnostics

As noted above, with rotavirus infection in children, the incubation period lasts from 1 to 7 days. At this time, as a rule, no signs of disease are observed.

Suddenly vomiting and diarrhea can lead parents to the idea of ​​poisoning the child with any food, and "cold" symptoms - that he has the flu or ARVI.

For an accurate diagnosis is required to pass tests:

1. Blood is common.To confirm rotavirus infection is ineffective. However, it helps to identify the possibility of complications and decide how to treat rotavirus infection in children. This analysis determines the presence of a child: leukocytosis (increased leukocytes), leukopenia (reduced leukocytes), lymphocytosis (elevated lymphocytes), hematocrit. The latter is an indicator that determines the ratio of blood cells to its liquid part, in children over 1 month should be equal to 45%. Gradually decreasing, it reaches the value of 37% by the age of 5, and then increases again. Deviations can be harbingers of problems with the heart, brain, kidneys. Pay attention to the ESR.
2. Urine total. It is also not informative, indicating exactly the presence of rotavirus in the body, but it allows revealing abnormalities in the urogenital system.
3. Coprogram. It allows you to determine how disturbed the process of absorption in the intestines of nutrients and the level of damage.
4. FRT. Using this analysis, determine the presence of the virus in the feces.
5. Saliva, vomit, other biomaterial.
6. Express test.It can be carried out at home. This test is sold in every pharmacy. The detailed instruction is attached to it, a flask with a solution and a display panel with two windows. In one the sample is located, in another the result is shown. Near this window there are two letters "T" and "C". If a red stripe appeared against the first one, and a green stripe against the second one, the result is positive. If nothing appeared against the letter “T” - the test is negative. If there are other options - the test is spoiled and should be repeated.

How to distinguish rotavirus infection from other diseases

Determining what to treat rotavirus infection in children, it is necessary to first differentiate it from other problems that occur in children in the intestines:

1. Enteritis and gastroenteritis. In these diseases, fever, diarrhea, dehydration, seizures may also occur, but there is no sign of a cold.
2. Flu.Common symptoms are fever, cough, runny nose, lethargy, fatigue, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, headache. However, vomiting is extremely rare (as an individual reaction of a child to a virus), and diarrhea is generally not characteristic.
3. Dysentery.The incubation period of the disease (as with rotavirus) is 2-3 days. The manifestation is sharp. Symptoms: frequent diarrhea, vomiting, fever, weakness, rumbling in the abdomen, abdominal pain. Distinctive signs: in the feces with dysentery, characteristic greenish mucus can be observed, sometimes with blood streaks, vomiting occurs 1-2 times, no more, and no cold symptoms are observed.
4. Food poisoning.This pathology makes itself felt already in the first hours after ingestion of poor-quality food, that is, an incubation period of several days is usually not observed. Symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, fever, dark urine, weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath, low blood pressure, but no cough, runny nose, sore throat.

In order to verify the presence / absence of rotavirus at home, you need to do a rapid test.

What to give the child with rotavirus infection

When the initial symptoms occur, not allparents rush to call an ambulance, trying to first cope with diarrhea and temperature on their own. Speaking about the treatment of rotavirus infection in children, Komarovsky explains in detail what should not be done:

1. Give your child medications for diarrhea.The fact is that with fecal masses viruses are removed from the intestine. They can be counted there trillions. If you stop diarrhea abruptly, they will all remain in the intestines, which will significantly aggravate the course of the disease. In addition, the stagnation of feces contributes to the absorption of toxins into the blood.
2. Давать ребенку антибиотики.In this case, they only bring harm, as they do not act on viruses, but weaken the immune system even more. These drugs are only needed if pneumonia or bacterial infections of the gastrointestinal tract are associated with rotaviruses.
3. Buy homeopathic medicines ("Anaferon" and analogues). Komarovsky believes that they are not confused, but they significantly reduce the family budget.
4. Feed the baby by force. Only if he insistently asks to eat, should he be offered a light gruel.

Consider what to give a child with rotavirus infection:

1. Drink plenty of water. If the child refuses to drink water, tea, kompotik, then he needs to be watered by force, pouring in a little bit of liquid.
2. Регидранты. «Хумана Электролит», «Регидрон».If they are not at home and in the nearest pharmacies, you should make such a solution: dissolve sugar (2 spoons) in a liter of water, a spoonful of salt and baking soda. Giving these drugs should be forced if the baby refuses to drink them voluntarily. You can use for this purpose a spoon or syringe without a needle.
3. Sorbents. Suitable "Smekta", "Enterosgel."
4. Antipyretic at high (more than 38 degrees) temperature.

The need for antiviral treatmentmany doctors, including Komarovsky, consider the drugs to be not entirely justified, since so far there are no such drugs, whose effectiveness against rotavirus would be proven.

But many pediatricians prescribe Arbidol, Cycloferone pills, Viferon and Kipferon pills for children with this disease.

How to feed a child with rotavirus infection

Above, we noted that forcibly giving a child food should not be. Lack of appetite is a defensive reaction of the body, because in the patient's intestines all digestion processes are disturbed.

Babies should continue to give mom'smilk It will help fight the infection, although in the acute period it may be a cause of increased diarrhea. If babies are bottle-fed, they need to be transferred to lactose-free mixtures, since lactase deficiency is often observed with rotavirus, which means the intolerance of this enzyme.

For children of other age categories, there are feeding rules when infected with rotaviruses:

1. Give food in very small portions.
2. Take short breaks between feedings.
3. Steam everything.

On the first day or two, doctors advise you to offer your child to eat an apple (baked), a banana, crackers and boiled rice.

Diet for rotavirus infection in children is that you can leave the menu:

1. Kashki on water without oil and sweeteners (semolina, oatmeal, buckwheat, rice).
2. Vegetable broth on water with rice.
3. Steamed omelets, meatballs, lean fish, chicken.
4. Crackers.
5. Baked apples.
6. Boiled vegetables (zucchini, carrots, some potatoes).
7. Homemade fruit marmalade.
8. Dairy products (low-fat cottage cheese, kefir, yogurt) can be offered to a child if his body tolerates lactose well.

How to feed a child with rotavirus infection? We have dealt with this. Now let's see what he can not give:

1. Fatty first courses, broths.
2. Sausages, sausages.
3. Pasta.
4. Sweets.
5. Kashi (barley, wheat, millet).
6. Raw fruits (except banana).
7. Raw vegetables (cucumber, tomato, onion).
8. Nuts
9. Chocolate.
10. Any salinities and marinades.

During the recovery period, you should also follow a diet. It is not recommended to give to children:

1. Whole milk.
2. Ice cream.
3. Legumes
4. Fatty dishes (meat, fish).
5. Rye bread.
6. Millet porridge.

Finally

About rotavirus infection in children Komarovskysays that before the age of 5, 98% of children are usually sick, and the rest will be infected with this virus later. That is, knowledge about its symptoms and treatment is relevant for each of us. There are no effective preventive measures against rotavirus. The only thing that can help is vaccination. In those who have been ill, immunity is observed only in the first few months, that is, it can be picked up several times.

The main thing that parents should do whenthe onset of characteristic symptoms, call an ambulance, and also start giving the child plenty of room temperature drinks. If the doctor offers hospitalization, it is impossible to refuse it. If the form of the disease is not severe, you can walk with the child in the fresh air, but you should not allow him to communicate with other children. The baby remains infectious until complete recovery, even if it does not already have dangerous symptoms (vomiting and diarrhea).

In order to prevent rotavirus infection forother children, the parents of the sick child should not send him to children's institutions until tests show that the disease is completely cured.