The symptoms of rotavirus are similar to those of other gastrointestinal conditions. Because of this, doctors often look at symptoms and treat those rather than testing for rotavirus. However, doctors will rule out any serious conditions, like appendicitis. They may also test for bacterial causes of symptoms. Bacterial infections can cause more severe illnesses and are sometimes treated with antibiotics. A lab test is the only way to definitively diagnose rotavirus. This is usually only done if doctors think there may be an outbreak of rotavirus, or if symptoms won’t go away.