How is rotavirus treated?
There is no specific medicine for rotavirus infection. However, there are some treatments available to help with the symptoms.
As diarrhoea and vomiting can lead to fluid loss, treatment consists of lots of liquids to prevent dehydration, for example clear fluids, or rehydration drinks which are avalible from pharmacy. Severe cases may require hospitalisation for intravenous fluid replacement (via a needle in a vein).
Children may experience symptoms of dehydration. Medical treatment should be sought for children who show loss of appetite, little urination (wee), have a dry mouth and throat, and/or are unusually sleepy or hard to settle.
Seek medical assistance or go to your emergency department if your child refuses to drink or has worrying symptoms, for example, very frequent diarrhoea or vomiting, listlessness or drowsiness.
Children, even those who are vaccinated, can get sick more than once. However, children who are vaccinated are much less likely to get sick and if they do, they will likely experience less severe symptoms than vaccinated children.
Adults normally experience milder symptoms than children.
Sources & Citations
2. Australian Government, Department of Health. The Australian Immunisation Handbook. Rotavirus. Available at: https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/vaccine-preventable-diseases/rotavirus (accessed 17 March 2020).
3. NSW Government. Rotavirus Fact Sheet. Available at: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Factsheets/rotavirus.pdf (accessed 17 March 2020).
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Hamborsky J, Kroger A, Wolfe S, eds. 13th ed. Washington D.C. Public Health Foundation, 2015.
5. Victoria State Government. Better Health Channel. Rotavirus. Available at: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ConditionsAndTreatments/rotavirus?viewAsPdf=true (accessed 17 March 2020).
8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rotavirus. Symptoms. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/rotavirus/about/symptoms.html (accessed 17 March 2020).
9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rotavirus. Treatment. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/rotavirus/about/treatment.html (accessed 17 March 2020).
10. SA Health. Rotavirus infection - including symptoms, treatment and prevention. Available at: https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/health+topics/health+conditions+prevention+and+treatment/infectious+diseases/rotavirus+infection/rotavirus+infection+-+including+symptoms+treatment+and+prevention (accessed 22 March 2020).
SPANZ.SAPAS.18.04.0157(1)a - Date of preparation May 2020Show All