Rotavirus diet in adults: detailed nutritional information for patients

Rotavirus infection, or intestinal flu, is highly contagious and common. As a rule, adults tolerate it more easily than children, although even in a mild form, the disease causes considerable discomfort. Infectious agents cause disturbances in digestive functions, which are manifested by diarrhea and a number of associated symptoms. How effective the treatment will be depends greatly on the diet and diet during this period, and therefore the diet for rotavirus is of paramount importance.

Features of the disease

The virus enters the body most often with contaminated food, water, through unwashed hands and household items. With very close contact, it is also transmitted by airborne droplets. The acidic environment of the stomach is not capable of destroying pathogenic microorganisms, and they easily penetrate the intestines. It is there that the causative agent of the infection develops vigorous activity, damaging the villi of the small intestine and interfering with the normal breakdown of food.

The patient has characteristic symptoms:

• severe diarrhea;
• nausea and vomiting;
• cramps and pain in the abdomen;
• weakness;
• temperature increase.

In most cases, these manifestations are accompanied by signs of acute respiratory infections - sore throat, nasal congestion, cough. The greatest danger is the dehydration of the body, because the lack of fluid increases intoxication and provokes the development of inflammatory processes in the digestive tract.

It has been proven that certain foods contribute to the multiplication of viruses, which create ideal conditions in the intestines for their growth. And the correction of the diet helps to significantly reduce the number of pathogenic microorganisms and eliminate dehydration.

Rotavirus diet

The patient's diet should consist exclusively of easily digestible dishes with the maximum content of vitamins and useful microelements. In addition, you need a lot of drinking: the most preferable is mineral water without gas, unsweetened teas and berry teas are also possible.

What should be included in the diet:

• porridge - buckwheat, oatmeal, rice (in water and without oil);
  

  Buckwheat porridge

• dietary meat broth;
  

  Fat-free meat broth

• vegetable soups (not rich);
  

  Vegetable soup

• steamed fish of low-fat varieties;
  

  Steamed fish cakes

• boiled cabbage and carrots;
  

  Boiled cabbage

• mashed potatoes without oil.
  

  Puree

As a dessert, it is allowed to use baked apples or fruit jelly, a little natural honey.

In the early days, when the malaise causes severe discomfort and the appetite disappears, you should not force the patient to eat. The main thing during this period is to ensure that you drink enough to stay hydrated. Drinking must be warm or at room temperature, as cold and hot liquids will only exacerbate the problem. Water and broths can be alternated with chicken broth - it will help to cope with weakness.

The best way to restore the required fluid levels in the body is to use a water-salt solution. You can prepare it yourself: you need to boil a liter of water, dissolve 60-80 g of sugar, 30-35 g of salt and 5-7 g of baking soda in it. The resulting solution is cooled to a temperature of 20-25 degrees and a quarter of a glass is drunk every two hours.

In between, you should definitely drink unsweetened tea or plain water, so as not to aggravate the situation with excessive accumulation of salts in the body.

Advice. Such a solution is given to the patient in cases where there is severe diarrhea and frequent vomiting, which is the cause of dehydration. If the signs of infection are weak, water and tea will be enough (at least 1.5 liters per day).

Rice water will help to quickly cope with diarrhea. It is also easy to cook it: washed rice (3 tablespoons per liter) is poured into boiling water and boiled for 30-40 minutes over low heat, until the cereal is well boiled. Further, this semi-liquid mass is rubbed through a sieve, slightly salted and given to the patient in small portions. For greater effect, you can add baking soda to the broth - about half a teaspoon. Such a tool has enveloping properties and has a very beneficial effect on the mucous membrane. As soon as the condition improves, you can refresh yourself with broth.

If there is a feeling of hunger, broths and broth must be replaced with something more solid, for example, vegetable soup or porridge. Portions should not be large (about a third of the usual), but should be eaten often - 5-6 times a day. As the condition improves, the portions can be gradually increased, while continuing to drink the liquid in the specified volume. Tea made from mint and chamomile, a weak decoction of rose hips with the addition of blueberries, and a decoction of raisins do a good job with nausea and malaise.

Sample menu for rotavirus

Eating	The diet
Breakfast	Liquid buckwheat or rice porridge in water, 2-3 wheat croutons, a cup of green or black tea with honey instead of sugar
Lunch	Boiled vegetables, baked apple or berry mousse (no more than 100 g)
Dinner	Poultry broth, 2 croutons, a piece of boiled lean meat
Afternoon snack	Oatmeal jelly, croutons
Dinner	Liquid porridge, a piece of fish or a steamed cutlet, tea or fruit broth

There can be many menu options, and the more varied the dishes, the better. Salting cereals and soups is necessary to a minimum - the total amount of salt should not exceed 6 g per day. Cereals should be boiled well to make it easier for the body to assimilate nutrients. It is recommended to follow such a diet for six to eight days until the acute stage of the disease passes. If the infection is mild, you can adhere to the specified diet for 3-4 days, but not less.

After each meal, it is necessary to monitor how the body reacts to food. If the condition worsens, for example, abdominal cramps appear or diarrhea intensifies, the menu is adjusted by rejecting those dishes that provoked the deterioration. But even after the state of health returns to normal, it is impossible to abruptly switch to the usual diet, so as not to overload the fragile intestine.

Advice. To restore normal microflora after a week of strict diet it is recommended to introduce yoghurts, fermented baked milk, yogurt and other fermented milk products into the diet. They should be low in fat and free from dyes and other artificial additives. And here whole milk should be abstained from until complete recovery.

What not to eat with rotavirus

With intestinal flu, first of all, it is necessary to exclude from the diet everything that can irritate the mucous membrane and contribute to the development of pathogenic microbes:

• fermented milk and dairy products, sweets in any form - create an ideal environment in the intestines for the reproduction of viruses;
  

  Dairy products should not be eaten until recovery

• fresh baked goods, cabbage, legumes, radishes - cause fermentation in the intestines, increasing bloating and flatulence;
  

  Fresh baked goods provoke flatulence

• onions, garlic, citrus fruits, hot sauces, pickles - irritate the mucous membrane, increase inflammation;
  

  All citrus fruits are also better to postpone until the virus is defeated.

• pasta, pearl barley and barley groats, fried, fatty and smoked dishes - refer to heavy food, overload the digestive tract.
  

  Smoked meat products are prohibited

The same applies to drinks: soda and drinks containing caffeine negatively affect the intestines, irritating the mucous membranes. After their use, the patient may experience severe cramps in the abdomen, rumbling, bloating, and diarrhea intensifies.

Freshly squeezed juices are also not recommended, especially from sour berries, fruits or vegetables.

It is strictly forbidden to use alcohol and drinks with artificial colors and flavors. Herbal decoctions should be used with caution and only after consulting a doctor, because many medicinal plants have their own contraindications.

Prevention of rotavirus infection

Intestinal infections spread in many ways, and it is impossible to completely protect yourself from infection. But there are a number of measures that can help reduce the risks of the disease to a minimum. It is very important to observe sanitary and hygienic rules: wash your hands regularly, clean and ventilate the premises in a timely manner, do not eat unwashed fruits and vegetables. If possible, try not to buy food from street stalls and open stalls, where the quality of the food is poor.

If one of the family members has signs of acute respiratory infections and intestinal upset at the same time, it is worth immediately isolating him in a separate room and calling a doctor. The patient should have individual utensils, and it is advisable for someone to contact him alone, so as not to put everyone living in the house at risk of infection.

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