|  | Conditions Treatments | Medical Conditions

Rota Virus Symptoms

Rota virus is a highly contagious virus that affects the bowels. The virus causes an illness of the stomach and the intestines called gastroenteritis. Gastroentertis is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract that causes acute diarrhea. Although anyone can contract rota virus, it's the leading cause of severe diarrhea in children and infants worldwide. The majority of the cases of rota virus can be treated at home by the consumption of extra fluids to avoid dehydration, but severe cases in infants may cause the infant to be hospitalized. There are vaccinations to protect infants from catching the virus. For older children and adults, the best form of prevention is washing their hands.

  1. Fever

    • The incubation period for rota virus is normally around 2 days. After that, the fever is normally the first symptom to appear. A fever is a raise in the body's temperature over 98.6 degrees. The fever appears as the first sign that the body is fighting the rotavirus. This symptom can be treated with over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol and ibuprofen.

    Diarrhea

    • When caused by rota virus, diarrhea is normally severe. The diarrhea is extremely watery and may have blood in it. Normally, this symptom will occur 2 to 3 times per day and can last up to 9 days. Extra fluids should be consumed to avoid dehydration.

    Vomiting

    • Vomiting can lead to dehydration if the symptom occurs for a lengthy amount of time. With rota virus, vomiting normally isn't a symptom that occurs on its own. It's normally accompanied by severe diarrhea. A doctor should be contacted if the vomiting becomes so severe that liquids aren't being ingested for more than 24 hours.

    Abdominal Cramps

    • Because the virus is infecting the bowels, abdominal cramps may appear in the lower abdomen. Abdominal cramps can be a dull pain that lasts for several minutes or a short, stabbing pain that lasts a few seconds. Normally this symptom will subside on its own, but a heating pad can relieve the pain until it does.

    Dehydration

    • Someone with rota virus experiences severe diarrhea and possibly vomiting. This can cause the body to dehydrate if enough liquids are not consumed. Signs of dehydration include excessive thirst, dry mouth, little or no urination and crying with no tears. More severe cases of dehydration may cause the ill person to be hospitalized.

Medical Conditions - Related Articles