Question
My son has been experiencing diarrhea frequently lately. After a hospital visit, he was diagnosed with rotavirus diarrhea. How should it be treated?
Answer
Generally, treatment focuses on controlling the symptoms of the disease. Intravenous fluid therapy can be used to correct dehydration and acidosis, while Panangin is taken orally. In recent years, interferon (IFN) has also been used to treat rotavirus infections. This medication can inhibit the virus from replicating in the human body, thereby alleviating symptoms and shortening the duration of the illness. If a newborn develops autumnal diarrhea, breastfeeding should continue, as breast milk contains about 90% of antibodies against rotavirus, which can help alleviate symptoms or shorten the duration of the illness.