The incubation period of rotavirus in adults and in children. Symptoms of rotavirus infection

Rotavirus infection is an acute disease that most often occurs in children. The main symptoms of the disease are intoxication, dehydration, abnormal gastrointestinal function. Often found in adults, but they have a disease in a lighter form.

Pathogens of the disease

For the first time, agents of rotavirus were discovered in 1973. They got their name from the fact that they look like little wheels. It is interesting that these microorganisms can be grown artificially. For this, cells of green monkeys are used. Human rotaviruses do not pose a danger to animals.

Transmission and course of the disease

Pathogens of the disease can appear only in the human body. Moreover, they are transmitted only to people, that is, animals will not suffer after contact with the patient. The incubation period of the rotavirus can last up to one week. The infection is transmitted through the oral-fecal mechanism. There is also the possibility of respiratory infection. In hot countries rotavirus, the incubation period of development of which can be individual for each person, occurs all year round. In the temperate zone, the disease spreads mainly in the winter.

The disease can strike as adults, and children, and the elderly. Sometimes rotavirus occurs without any symptoms, so it can only be determined by a doctor. Reproduction and accumulation of microorganisms occurs in the upper parts of the stomach. First, the inflammation develops in the duodenal epithelium, and then it enters the lumen of the intestine. Because of this, mature cells of the intestine die, replacing with new ones. This causes absorption of nutrients, leading to osmotic diarrhea. Many are frightened when they hear the name of this disease - rotavirus. The incubation period in children is the same as in adults - from a few hours to a week. But the immunity in children is still weak, so the disease is more acute. There can be a frequent stool, so you should do everything to avoid dehydration of the child's body.

Signs of infection in adults

The incubation period of the rotavirus lasts from 15 hours to a week. That is, in the beginning, the patient may not have signs of illness. But when it progresses, the symptoms are very acute. Within a day after the onset of the disease, pain in the stomach, nausea and vomiting begin. The patient can also increase cervical lymph nodes. However, one of the most characteristic signs of infection is the defeat of the digestive system.

The patients often confuse such an infection with the usual digestive disorder, since both diseases have similar symptoms. However, when the incubation period of the rotavirus is not yet complete, the patient is very contagious to others. It can be dangerous. After all, if in a team someone started the incubation period of rotavirus, then in just a few days, the infection will appear among the rest of its members. The disease does not develop only if a person has strong immunity. In liquid discharge there is no mucus or blood, but the stool has an unpleasant odor. In the abdomen there is also a loud rumbling.

Rotavirus without temperature

The incubation period of rotavirus infection can last only a few hours, after which the patient has the first signs of the disease. Although intoxication occurs in about 10% of patients. Much more often the disease runs without temperature. With the help of palpation, you can determine where the stomach hurts. Soreness in the epigastrium and near the navel signals the development of rotavirus. If the disease is acute, then the amount of urine may decrease, leukocyturia and erythrocyturia appear.

Duration of the disease

The disease usually manifests itself after the incubation period is completed. After the rotavirus, the patient may need a few more days to recover, since during the period of illness the body could be severely weakened. The duration of the disease depends on how quickly the diagnosis was made. Usually the symptoms of rotavirus last from 2 to 6 days. Complications are rare, and they appear only in the event that the treatment started untimely. Because of acute diarrhea, dehydration may occur. It is much worse if a secondary bacterial intestinal infection occurs, which causes the rotavirus to deteriorate.

How to treat an infection?

The incubation period of the rotavirus can last only a few hours. If the disease manifests itself suddenly, not all patients know what to do. Some at first even refuse treatment, while others, on the contrary, begin to take a huge amount of medicines. Nevertheless, no one better than a doctor can answer the question, how correctly to treat the infection? There are two types of treatment: symptomatic and pathogenetic. To prevent intoxication, which rarely appears on the second day after the incubation period of rotavirus infection in adults or children has ended, the doctor assigns sorbents to patients. If the disease is severe, the specialist can inject intravenously glucose with colloidal solutions. Antiviral drugs also have a very effective effect. Usually treatment includes the same measures, regardless of the incubation period of the rotavirus.

Diet during rotavirus infection

It is very important to observe a diet during illness, due to which the manifestation of gastroenteritis in the body will decrease. This, in turn, will reduce the likelihood of dehydration. For the duration of the disease, it is necessary to completely eliminate from the diet dairy products that can cause diarrhea. Food should be boiled or cooked for a couple. The greatest attention should be given to the use of liquids. To avoid dehydration, it is advisable to use special solutions sold in the pharmacy. If you can not buy them, then you can make such a composition at home. To do this, take a liter of boiled water and add to it 1-2 teaspoons of salt and 2-3 tablespoons of sugar. Store such a solution can be no more than a day. Diet after the end of the disease should also be lactose-free, so that the normal functioning of the intestine has occurred. Return to the normal diet should be gradual.

Thus, rotavirus can appear in any person. It is necessary to start its treatment immediately, since the effectiveness of all the procedures that are performed depends on this. Do not self-medicate, because only the doctor can determine which drugs to use.