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Rotavirus infection - Treatment
Last reviewed: 08.07.2025
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Patients with moderate and severe forms of rotavirus infection, as well as patients who pose a high epidemiological risk (decreeed contingents), are subject to hospitalization.
Complex treatment of rotavirus infection includes therapeutic nutrition, etiotropic, pathogenetic and symptomatic therapy.
Milk and dairy products are excluded from the diet, carbohydrate consumption is limited (vegetables, fruits and juices, legumes). Food should be physiologically complete, mechanically and chemically gentle, with sufficient content of protein, fat, mineral salts and vitamins. It is necessary to increase the frequency of meals.
A promising treatment for rotavirus infection is the use of drugs with antiviral and interferonogenic activity, in particular, meglumine acridonacetate (cycloferon). Meglumine acridonacetate in tablet form is taken on the 1st-2nd-4th-6th-8th day in an age-related dosage: up to 3 years - 150 mg; 4-7 years - 300 mg; 8-12 years - 450 g: adults - 600 mg once. The use of meglumine acridonacetate leads to more effective elimination of rotavirus and a reduction in the duration of the disease. In addition, immunoglobulins for enteral administration can be used as therapeutic agents: normal human immunoglobulin (IgG + IgA + IgM) - 1-2 doses 2 times a day. Antibacterial agents are not indicated.
Pathogenetic treatment of rotavirus infection, aimed at combating dehydration and intoxication, is carried out by administering polyionic crystalloid solutions. intravenously or orally, taking into account the degree of dehydration and the patient's body weight. Oral rehydration is carried out with solutions heated to 37-40 ° C: glucosolan, citraglucosolan, rehydron. Polyionic solutions are used for infusion therapy.
An effective method for treating diarrhea of rotavirus etiology is enterosorption: dioctahedral smectite, 1 powder 3 times a day; polymethylsiloxane polyhydrate, 1 tablespoon 3 times a day; hydrolytic lignin, 2 tablets 3-4 times a day.
Taking into account enzymatic deficiency, it is recommended to use polyenzyme agents (such as pancreatin) 1-2 tablets 3 times a day during meals.
In addition, treatment of rotavirus infection requires the inclusion of biopreparations containing bifidobacteria (bfiform, 2 capsules 2 times a day).
[ Prevention of rotavirus infection
Prevention of rotavirus infection includes a set of anti-epidemic measures taken in relation to the entire group of acute intestinal infections with a feco-oral mechanism of infection. This is, first of all, rational nutrition, strict observance of sanitary standards of water supply, sewerage, increasing the level of sanitary and hygienic education of the population.
For specific prevention of rotavirus infection in humans, several vaccines are proposed, currently undergoing final phases of clinical trials for efficacy and safety. These are the Rotarix vaccine (GlaxoSmithKline), based on the human type of the virus, and a vaccine based on human and bovine strains of rotavirus, created in the laboratory of Merck & Co.
No outpatient observation is carried out.
Treatment of rotavirus infection is supplemented by following a diet with limited milk and dairy products, carbohydrates for 2-3 weeks.