How to Treat Rotavirus in Children

Rotavirus is a virus that affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is the leading cause of severe diarrhea in children and infants, causing millions of cases of diarrhea around the world each year. According to the Nemours Foundation, nearly all children have become infected with the virus by the time they reach five years of age, with most cases causing only mild symptoms. However, in some children, the infection becomes serious. Hospitalization is required for about 55,000 children each year. Symptoms of rotavirus in children include fever, diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain. The diarrhea may be profuse, watery and persist for longer than a week.

Things You'll Need

• Rehydration fluid or popsicles
• Acetaminophen
• Ibuprofen

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Instructions

• 1

  Have your child's blood, urine and stool tested for the presence of bacteria in severe cases. While antibiotics do not work against rotavirus, they are important if your child's symptoms are caused by a bacterial infection with symptoms similar to rotavirus.

• 2

  Isolate the child during the recovery period to prevent others from catching rotavirus. Most schools and day cares have rules in place regarding how long your child must remain at home, typically until the symptoms have completely cleared.

• 3

  Prevent dehydration by offering your child plenty of fluids or an oral rehydration drink, if your doctor thinks it is necessary. Avoid soft drinks and fruit juices, as the high sugar content in these drinks can make diarrhea worse. Infants should continue to be breast- or bottle-fed as normal.

• 4

  Give smaller amounts of fluid more often if your child is vomiting. If he or she is vomiting frequently, or cannot hold down fluids, call your pediatrician for advice. Your child may need hospital care.

• 5

  Offer your child food if he or she is hungry. Follow the BRAT diet to reduce diarrhea by giving your child foods such as bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Avoid dairy products and any foods that may irritate the stomach.

• 6

  Give your child acetaminophen for fever as needed. Fever can contribute to dehydration, and should be closely monitored in children with rotavirus, according to the Mayo Clinic. If acetaminophen is ineffective, ibuprofen can be used instead.

• 7

  Watch for symptoms of dehydration caused by severe diarrhea. Dehydration symptoms in children include lethargy, dry or sticky mouth, an absence of tears when crying, sunken eyes, a sunken fontanelle, and excessive thirst. The skin may be cool and dry to the touch, and infants may have a dry diaper after several hours without changing.

• 8

  Take your child to the hospital if he or she becomes increasingly ill or shows signs of dehydration. In some cases, dehydration may need to be treated in a hospital setting with IV fluids.