Rotavirus is a common and very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea.
Rotavirus is a viral infection of the digestive tract that can cause severe dehydration.
Typical symptoms include fever, vomiting, and watery diarrhea.
The diagnosis is based on symptoms.
Most children get better by resting and drinking fluids, but a few are given fluids by vein (intravenously).
Routine vaccination can prevent rotavirus infection.
Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhea in young children aged 3 to 15 months. It is one of the viruses that causes gastroenteritis (inflammation of the digestive tract that results in vomiting, diarrhea, or both).
In the United States before rotavirus vaccination became available, about 55,000 to 70,000 children under the age of 5 were hospitalized each year for diarrhea caused by rotavirus. Although hardly any children in the United States die of rotavirus, elsewhere in the world, the virus causes over 200,000 deaths a year, mainly in children under the age of 5. Most of these children live in low-resource countries.
The virus is spread from person to person, especially if people with diarrhea do not thoroughly wash their hands after a bowel movement. Infection also can occur if people touch their mouth after touching an object (such as a diaper or toy) contaminated by infected stool. All such transmission involving infected stool is called fecal-oral transmission. People can also become infected if they eat food or drink water that is contaminated with the virus. Adults can become infected after close contact with an infected infant, but serious illness is rare.
During the winter in temperate climates, rotavirus causes most cases of diarrhea that are serious enough to send infants and toddlers to the hospital. In the United States before rotavirus vaccination became available, a wave of rotavirus illness would begin in the Southwest in November and end in the Northeast in March. Now, the illness occurs less predictably and can occur year round.
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Symptoms of Rotavirus Infection
Rotavirus symptoms begin with fever and vomiting, followed by watery diarrhea. The illness typically lasts 5 to 7 days.
If fluid losses are not replaced, dehydration often develops. Dehydration makes the child weak and listless, with a dry mouth and rapid pulse. In young children, diarrhea is more likely to cause severe dehydration and even death.
Diagnosis of Rotavirus Infection
A doctor's evaluation
Doctors do not usually do tests to detect rotavirus unless they are trying to identify an outbreak.
When testing is necessary, samples of stool are sent to a laboratory for evaluation.
Treatment of Rotavirus Infection
Bed rest and fluids
There is no specific treatment for rotavirus. Most children get better with bed rest and by drinking an adequate amount of fluids (see also treatment of gastroenteritis).
Seriously ill children may require fluids given by vein (intravenously) to prevent dehydration.
Medications to control the diarrhea (called antidiarrheal drugs) should not be given to children under the age of 18.
Prevention of Rotavirus Infection
Good hygiene
Rotavirus vaccine
Practicing good hygiene is the best way to prevent gastroenteritis. A sick child and the people in the household should wash their hands frequently.
Two vaccines to prevent rotavirus are available. Rotavirus vaccine is one of the routinely recommended infant vaccines. Depending on the vaccine used, two or three doses of the vaccine are given by mouth at ages 2 months and 4 months or at ages 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months.
