Which department should I visit for rotavirus?
After being infected with rotavirus, patients can seek medical care from one of five departments based on age and symptom characteristics: pediatrics, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, emergency medicine, or an intestinal outpatient clinic. Rotavirus primarily causes acute gastroenteritis, and different departments provide specialized diagnosis and treatment tailored to specific populations and clinical scenarios. Seeking timely medical attention helps effectively control symptoms and prevent complications. The details are as follows:

1. Pediatrics: Infants and young children are most susceptible to rotavirus. Pediatricians are better equipped to accurately assess illness severity and determine appropriate medication dosages for children, enabling targeted management of symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea.
2. Gastroenterology: For adult infections or cases where gastrointestinal symptoms like abdominal pain and diarrhea are predominant, gastroenterologists can perform specialized tests to assess the extent of infection and develop appropriate treatment plans.
3. Infectious Diseases Department: Since rotavirus is contagious, the infectious diseases department has extensive experience in controlling viral transmission and managing infectious conditions, making it suitable for patients at risk of clustered or outbreak-related infections.
4. Emergency Department: In urgent situations such as severe vomiting and diarrhea leading to dehydration or persistent high fever, the emergency department can quickly initiate life-saving interventions to ensure patient safety.
5. Intestinal Outpatient Clinic: Some hospitals have dedicated intestinal clinics specializing in diagnosing and treating various intestinal infections. These clinics can rapidly conduct pathogen testing and deliver targeted therapies.
Daily preventive measures include maintaining good food hygiene, separating raw and cooked foods during preparation, and thoroughly washing hands before meals and after using the toilet. During infection, promptly replenish fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration. Patients' clothing and utensils should be washed and disinfected separately to avoid cross-infection. Even after recovery, maintaining good hygiene habits remains essential to reduce the risk of reinfection.