Treatment
There is no specific medicine to treat rotavirus infection, but your doctor may recommend medicine to treat the symptoms. Antibiotics will not help because they fight bacteria not viruses.
Since rotavirus disease can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea, it can lead to dehydration (loss of body fluids). The best way to protect against dehydration is to drink plenty of liquids. You can get oral rehydration solutions over the counter in U.S. food and drug stores; these are most helpful for mild dehydration. Severe dehydration may require hospitalization for treatment with intravenous (IV) fluids that patients receive directly through their veins. If you or someone you are caring for is severely dehydrated, contact your doctor. Infants and young children, older adults, and people with other illnesses are most at risk of dehydration.
Symptoms of dehydration include:
- decreased urination
- dry mouth and throat
- feeling dizzy when standing up
- crying with few or no tears and
- unusual sleepiness or fussiness.