Is Rotavirus Just a Kids’ Illness?Īdults can be infected with rotavirus, but they tend to have milder cases. Children who have previously had rotavirus may be infected again, but repeat infections tend to be less severe. Because the virus is so widespread, even the cleanest environments can be infected. Better hygiene and sanitation have not been very good at reducing rotavirus disease. It is difficult to keep a child from being exposed to rotavirus. Can I Keep My Child from Being Exposed to Rotavirus? As a result, rotavirus can be easily spread in families, and outbreaks can occur in childcare centers, playgroups, and hospitals. The virus can survive for a few hours on human hands and for days on hard and dry surfaces. Rotavirus is resistant to most disinfectant cleaners, including anti-bacterial products. People who care for children can also spread the virus, especially if they do not wash their hands after changing diapers. Usually this happens when children forget to wash their hands often enough, especially before eating and after using the toilet. Children can catch a rotavirus infection if they put their fingers in their mouths after touching something that has been contaminated by the stool of an infected person. Rotavirus can be spread both before and after children show signs of being sick.
EGGY BURPS AND DIARRHEA PROFESSIONAL
Discuss with your child’s healthcare professional if an office visit is necessary. Severe vomiting, however, can make such oral rehydration therapy (ORT) difficult. The child is typically given fluids, such as oral electrolyte solutions, to replace those lost through diarrhea and vomiting. Home care therapy can be used to help manage uncomplicated cases of diarrhea. An infant or toddler may need to be treated with intravenous (IV) fluids in a hospital. In a severe case, a child could have as many as 20 diarrheal stools or vomiting episodes in a 24-hour period.ĭehydration is one of the most significant potential complications for infected children. Rotavirus in young children and babies can be very upsetting for parents as well as for the child, so quick recognition of its symptoms is very important. If you think your child has rotavirus you should call a healthcare professional. What Should I Do If I Think My Child Has Rotavirus?
Sunken eyes or sunken soft spot on top of the head.Lethargy (child won’t focus on you, is less responsive to touch or words).Frequent, watery diarrhea (often foul-smelling, green or brown).Anyone caring for small children should know the symptoms of rotavirus, including: Rotavirus often begins with a mild fever and is followed by vomiting and an upset stomach, as well as increased amounts of watery diarrhea many times a day. In the most severe cases of dehydration, a child may even develop convulsions or go into shock, which in rare cases can be life threatening. It is sometimes necessary for children to be rehydrated using intravenous fluids. Babies under one year of age, and especially those who have a fever, become dehydrated most easily because of their smaller body weights. The rapid loss of fluids that accompanies vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration, during which the body does not have the water and salts (or electrolytes) it needs. Why Can Dehydration Be Serious for Infants and Small Children? Dehydration can be a serious medical condition.Ĭhildren are most likely to get rotavirus disease between November and May, depending on the part of the country in which they reside. While many cases are mild, others can be severe, leading to dehydration.
Rotavirus is not the only cause of severe diarrhea, but it is one of the most common and serious. It is often accompanied by fever, vomiting as well as diarrhea. Rotavirus is a highly contagious virus that infects nearly all children by their fifth birthday.