What is rotavirus in children

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. Protect your child from rotavirus. You can get infected with rotavirus if you get rotavirus particles in your mouth.

Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Fluids are given through this tube. Blood tests. Dehydration needs to be treated right away see above. If your child has rotavirus, they may not be able to attend daycare or school while ill. If your child is in the hospital, they will be kept away from other children to prevent spread of the virus.

At home, good handwashing is important to prevent spread of the disease. To help prevent spread of the illness:. Wash your hands before and after caring for your child. Use soap and warm water and scrub for at least 20 seconds. Rinse well and air dry or use a clean towel.

Two oral rotavirus vaccines are available. They are RotaTeq and Rotarix. The CDC recommends that babies get one of these vaccines.

RotaTeq oral vaccine is given at ages 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months. Rotarix oral vaccine is given at age 2 months and 4 months. Some babies and children may have diarrhea so severe that they lose too much water dehydration. The virus causes watery diarrhea that may last from 3 to 8 days. It can also cause nausea, vomiting, and fever.

Treatment includes giving plenty of water, formula, breastmilk, or fluids with electrolytes sugars and salts. At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you for your child. Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed and how it will help your child. Also know what the side effects are. Know what to expect if your child does not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.

If your child has a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit. This is important if your child becomes ill and you have questions or need advice. Search Encyclopedia. Rotavirus Infection in Children What is rotavirus in children?

When older children and adults get rotavirus, they have a milder illness. They have less diarrhea and are less likely to become dehydrated. The first signs are usually fever and vomiting. Within 12 to 24 hours, children start to pass large amounts of watery diarrhea.

Severe diarrhea and dehydration are the most common symptoms of rotavirus. Dehydration can happen as soon as 6 hours after the illness starts. When children have rotavirus, their stool contains a large number of the germs. The virus enters the body through the mouth, usually on fingers but sometimes on toys or other objects.