What is rotavirus?
Rotavirus is an extremely common and easy-to-catch virus that can lead to serious consequences. It causes an illness of the intestines called gastroenteritis.
Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe diarrhea in young children. If your baby gets sick with rotavirus, symptoms may come on suddenly and usually begin with fever, vomiting, and upset stomach, followed by watery diarrhea that can last from 3 to 9 days.
Many rotavirus cases are relatively mild while some are severe. In a severe case, a child may vomit or have diarrhea more than 20 times in a day. Because your baby is so small, these symptoms can quickly lead to a loss of body fluids called dehydration.
In some cases, dehydration can be life threatening. An infant or toddler may need to be treated for dehydration with intravenous (IV) fluids in a hospital.
Some cases of rotavirus can be treated at home. The child is given fluids to replace those lost through diarrhea and vomiting. Severe vomiting, however, can make this difficult.
How do babies get rotavirus?
Rotavirus is easily spread through contaminated hands or objects and can survive for long periods of time on ordinary home surfaces. Since only certain disinfectants kill rotavirus, and many common soaps don't work, it's possible for everyone in the household to be infected.
How To Keep Rotavirus From Spreading
To help control the spread of rotavirus, cleanliness and good hygiene should be maintained in your home, as well as in day cares and preschools which are high-risk areas for rotavirus.
Is your baby at risk?
Because it is so easy to catch and can be serious, every parent with an infant or young child should know about rotavirus. If your baby has a severe case of rotavirus it can quickly lead to a loss of body fluids called dehydration, which can be life threatening. Your doctor can't predict which babies will have serious cases of rotavirus.
Your child is at risk because rotavirus:
- affects children of every ethnic group, culture, and economic status
- occurs regardless of quality of water, food, or sanitation
- is a common cause of diarrhea in infants and young children in the United States
- has been shown to pass from member to member of a family regardless of age
- historically was responsible for more than 400,000 physician visits, more than 200,000 emergency department (ED) visits, 55,000 to 70,000 hospitalizations, and 20 to 60 deaths each year in the United States
Talk to your baby's doctor
Almost all children are infected with rotavirus by 5 years of age. Most severe cases occur in children between 6 months and 2 years of age. Talk with your doctor if you have any questions about rotavirus.
Here are some questions that can help you discuss rotavirus with your child's doctor.
Source: Rotavirusinfo.com
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