Rotavirus Treatment & Management

  • Author: David D Nguyen, MD, FACEP; Chief Editor: Richard G Bachur, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 17, 2012
 

Prehospital Care

Prehospital care of affected infants should be directed toward ensuring a secure airway, breathing, identification of circulatory compromise, and maintenance of adequate circulation. Field personnel may not be able to achieve access in the child with a contracted circulatory volume.

Infants who appear significantly dehydrated ideally should have 20 mL/kg isotonic sodium chloride solution or Ringer lactate solution administered en route to the hospital.

Patients who are less severely affected need only monitored transport.

The destination ED should be an ED approved for pediatrics (EDAP) or a pediatric critical care center (PCCC).

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Emergency Department Care

After ensuring proper airway and breathing and assessing circulation, identification and treatment of dehydrated infants is the main objective. In many cases, appropriate rehydration may be accomplished using established oral rehydration protocols. Lethargic children require a fingerstick glucose level immediately either by EMS or in the ED.

  • For severely dehydrated children, vascular access (often via an IO line) is required.
  • Administer 20 mL/kg boluses until volume is restored. A total requirement of 60-80 mL/kg is not uncommon.
  • If more than 40 mL/kg is necessary, consider electrolytes, BUN, and creatinine levels.

Maintenance of hydration is the key issue for children who are not dehydrated. Selection of an appropriate fluid is crucial.

  • Infants who receive hyperosmolar fluids (eg, commercial soft drinks, sports drinks, gelatin) and those who are fed high salt-content solutions (eg, commercial soup, boiled milk) are at risk for significant hypernatremia.
  • Ideal maintenance beverages for dehydrated infants with viral enteritis are commercial infant solutions such as Pedialyte and Rice-Lyte. These beverages contain a small amount (usually 2-3%) of glucose and the correct balance of sodium and potassium.
  • Rehydrating infants with these beverages may be particularly difficult within the first 2 days of the illness because vomiting frequently occurs.
  • If the infant is vomiting, administer small, frequent feedings.
  • Once vomiting has resolved, the baby may be given a standard soy-based infant formula. This formula provides adequate energy intake for intestinal healing.
  • Supplemental feedings of oral maintenance solutions may be administered if fluid losses are excessive.
  • Avoid sports drinks and other hyperosmolar beverages for the reasons previously stated. Similarly, excessive free-water intake may predispose the infant to hyponatremia.
  • Antiemetics may be considered for children older than 6 months to control emesis.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

David D Nguyen, MD, FACEP  Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, TX

David D Nguyen, MD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, Harris County Medical Society, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Sally Henin Awad, MD, FACEP  Medical Director, Forensic Nursing Program, Memorial Hermann Hospital System

Sally Henin Awad, MD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Writers Association, American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Brent R King  MD, MMM, Clive Nancy and Pierce Runnells Distinguished Professor of Emergency Medicine; Professor of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston; Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, Chief of Emergency Services, Memorial Hermann Hospital and LBJ Hospital

Brent R King is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Physician Executives, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Garry Wilkes  MBBS, FACEM, Director of Emergency Medicine, Calvary Hospital, Canberra, ACT; Adjunct Associate Professor, Edith Cowan University; Clinical Associate Professor, Rural Clinical School, University of Western Australia

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Grace M Young, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland Medical Center

Grace M Young, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Emergency Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John D Halamka, MD, MS  Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Richard G Bachur, MD  Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School; Associate Chief and Fellowship Director, Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital of Boston

Richard G Bachur, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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Transmission electron micrograph of rotavirus. Image courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Transmission electron micrograph of intact rotavirus particles, double-shelled. Image courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Dr. Erskine Palmer.
This electron micrograph reveals a number of RNA rotavirus virions, and a number of unknown, 29nm virion particles. Image courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 
 
 
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