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Rotavirus, Pediatric

John Bower, MD Reviewed 10/2018
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Rotavirus is a leading cause of gastroenteritis in the United States and worldwide. Characterized by frequent watery stools, illness ranges from mild diarrhea to disease complicated ...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Stools are watery and often foul-smelling.

  • Gross blood or mucus is usually absent—their presence more often suggests a bacterial pathogen.

  • Diarrhea usually lasts 3 to 8 days.

  • Stool frequ...

TREATMENT

MEDICATION

  • Antimotility agents are generally avoided for all forms of infectious diarrhea in children.

  • Several studies suggest that supplementation with a specific probiotic strain, Lactobacil...

ONGOING CARE

COMPLICATIONS

  • Hypernatremia and metabolic acidosis occur more often with rotavirus gastroenteritis than other forms of viral gastroenteritis and may become severe enough to require intensi...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Bernstein DI. Rotavirus overview. Pediatr Infect Dis J.  2009;28(Suppl 3):S50–S53. [View Abstract on OvidInsights]

  • Cox E, Christenson JC. Rotavirus. Pediatr Rev.  2012;33(1...

CODES

ICD9

008.61 Enteritis due to rotavirus 

ICD10

A08.0 Rotaviral enteritis 

SNOMED

  • 186150001 Enteritis due to rotavirus (disorder)

  • 359662008 rotavirus infection of children (disorder)

FAQ

  • Q: How long are children contagious following rotavirus infections?

  • A: In most children, rotavirus shedding ceases within 7 days of the diarrhea resolving. However, asymptomatic shedding can persis...

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