Rotavirus treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Yes. In most cases, a doctor from Maple will be able to offer a rotavirus diagnosis by evaluating the child’s condition and discussing symptoms.

The doctor may also request that you take a stool sample to a clinic or lab to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes.

Rotavirus in adults is rare. Those affected may find they have only mild symptoms or are asymptomatic.

Yes, our physicians can prescribe medications online during your consultation. Once you accept a prescription, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy or have it delivered to your door at no additional cost.

You can visit our How it works page to learn more.

Rotavirus is a very common infection, usually found in young children. It causes inflammation in the stomach and intestines resulting in severe diarrhea. The infection symptoms typically last between three to eight days.

Before a rotavirus vaccine was available, it was incredibly common for children to have a rotavirus infection at least once before the age of 5.

Common rotavirus symptoms include:

• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Fever
• Diarrhea

These symptoms are considered normal. However, you should immediately seek medical attention if your child begins to experience:

• Black or tarry stool
• Bloody stool
• Pus in their stool
• Frequent vomiting
• Severe diarrhea (for more than 24 hours)
• Extreme lethargy or irritability
• Severe pain
• Symptoms of dehydrations (excessive thirst, crying without tears, unusual sleepiness, dry mouth, becoming unresponsive)
• A fever or 104 F (40 C) or higher

Rotavirus causes stem from fecal-oral contact.

The virus is usually present in the infected person’s stool for several days before they begin to show signs of any symptoms and for up to 10 days after symptoms have stopped.

While the virus is present, if stool gets onto hands and thorough hand washing isn’t done to clean it off, the virus can spread to other objects like toys, clothes, utensils and surfaces. The virus can stay active on contaminated objects and surfaces for weeks unless they’re sanitized.

If through either direct contact or contact with contaminated surfaces, the virus gets into the mouth, it can infect the new host. This also means it’s easy to spread if living areas aren’t thoroughly cleaned after a rotavirus infection, especially in places like schools and daycares.

Unfortunately, there is no specific rotavirus treatment. Antiviral and antibiotic medications won’t help this type of infection.

The biggest concern when a child is experiencing a rotavirus infection is dehydration. Because of the frequent and sometimes severe diarrhea, it’s very important to remember to watch for signs of dehydration, such as excessive thirst, crying without tears, unusual sleepiness, dry mouth, or becoming unresponsive.

The best way to combat this is to encourage drinking lots of water and other clear fluids. If dehydration does become a concern, talk to a doctor on Maple about what steps you should take to help protect your child.

The best way to prevent a rotavirus infection is by giving children the rotavirus vaccine.

Moreover, teaching young children good hygiene habits, including regular, thorough hand washing, can help reduce their risk of infection.

Yes, rotavirus is extremely contagious.

Because of the virus’ ability to stay active on contaminated objects and surfaces, rotavirus transmission is very easy. This can be minimized by thoroughly sanitizing all possible contamination points once a doctor has given a rotavirus diagnosis.

The biggest differences between rotavirus and norovirus are the duration of the infection, who the virus typically affects, and possible complications associated with the infections. Both conditions are caused by fecal-oral contamination involving infected stool.

In some cases, evaluating the symptoms alone may not be enough for a doctor to determine which virus is present, because their symptoms are very similar.

Yes, it is possible for rotavirus to cause seizures, although it’s very rare compared to other rotavirus symptoms.

In some rare cases, children can experience short convulsions as a symptom of rotavirus encephalopathy. They should see a doctor as soon as possible if this occurs.

Yes, in some cases rotavirus can cause a fever. If you or your children experience a fever of 104 F (40 C) or higher, you should seek immediate medical attention.

With Maple, you can start talking to a doctor about your symptoms in a matter of minutes. We’re a healthcare platform for fast, convenient 24/7 access to Canadian doctors.

Simply log in, tap a button to request a consultation, and we’ll immediately connect you to a doctor via live chat or video. You can visit our How it works page to learn more.

Our doctors can assess symptoms and provide treatment, including prescriptions, as necessary.