about rotavirus
Almost all children have had a rotavirus infection by the time they are 5 years old. Rotavirus is one of the most common causes of diarrhoea and severe infection. Rotavirus gastroenteritis is the leading cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhoea in infants and young children.
Rotavirus infections are responsible for approximately 750,000 cases of diarrhoea and 30,000 hospitalizations for diarrhoea and dehydration in children under 5 years old each year. Although these infections cause relatively few deaths, diarrhoea caused by rotavirus causes more than half a million deaths worldwide every year. This is especially true in developing countries, where nutrition and health care are not optimal.
signs and symptoms
Children with a rotavirus infection have a fever, nausea, and vomiting, often followed by abdominal cramps and frequent, watery diarrhoea. Children may also have a cough and runny nose. As with all viruses though, some rotavirus infections cause few or no symptoms, especially in adults. Sometimes the diarrhoea that accompanies a rotavirus infection is so severe that it can quickly lead to dehydration. Signs of dehydration include: thirst, irritability, restlessness, lethargy, sunken eyes, a dry mouth and tongue, dry skin, fewer trips to the bathroom to urinate, and (in infants) a dry diaper for several hours.
contagiousness
Rotavirus infection outbreaks are common during the winter and spring months. It is particularly a problem in childcare centres and children's hospitals because rotavirus infection is very contagious.
The virus passes in the stool of infected people before and after they have symptoms of the illness. Children can become infected if they put their fingers in their mouths after touching something that has been contaminated. Usually this happens when children do not wash their hands often enough, especially before eating and after using the toilet.
People who care for children, including health care and childcare workers, also can spread the virus, especially if they do not wash their hands after changing nappies.
prevention
There is a vaccine available to protect against Rotavirus but this is not used routinely in the UK.
The RotaTeq vaccine has been found to prevent approximately 75% of rotavirus infection cases and 98% of severe cases. Another vaccine, Rotarix, is available and is effective in preventing rotavirus infection. Your doctor will have the most current information about these vaccines.
Frequent hand washing is the best tool to limit the spread of rotavirus infection. Children who are infected should stay home from childcare groups until their diarrhoea has ended. In hospitals, rotavirus outbreaks are controlled by isolating infected patients and following strict hand washing procedures.
when to call your doctor
Call the doctor for advice if your child has signs of a rotavirus infection, including watery diarrhoea, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Call immediately if your child is showing signs of dehydration.
professional treatment
An infant or toddler who becomes moderately or severely dehydrated may need to be treated in a hospital with intravenous (IV) fluids to bring the body's fluid and salt levels back to normal. Most older children can be treated at home.
Your doctor may need to test your child's blood, urine, or stool to confirm that the diarrhoea is being caused by rotavirus and not by bacteria. Because antibiotics do not work against illnesses caused by viruses, the doctor will not prescribe antibiotics to treat a rotavirus infection.
home treatment
To prevent dehydration, follow your doctor's guidance about what your child should eat and drink. Your doctor may suggest that you give your child special drinks that replace body fluids, especially if the diarrhoea has been ocurring for longer than 2 or 3 days.
In general, children with mild diarrhoea who are not dehydrated should continue to eat normally but should receive more fluids. (Fruit juices and soft drinks can make diarrhoea worse and should be avoided.) Those who have mild to moderate dehydration should be given an oral rehydration solution in small, frequent amounts to correct the dehydration and then should go back to eating normally. Children who are breastfed should be breastfed throughout.
A child who is vomiting will need to eat smaller amounts more frequently. Follow your doctor's guidance and avoid giving your child store-bought medicines for vomiting or diarrhoea unless your doctor recommends them.
