Rotavirus

Rotavirus is the most common cause of diarrhea in children under 5 years of age, often leading to severe dehydration.

• Symptoms appear 2-4 days after exposure and can last 3-8 days.
• Symptoms & Risks
  • Severe diarrhea (up to 20-30 times per day!), vomiting, fever, and stomach pain
  • Dehydration, which can cause electrolyte imbalances and acidosis (dangerous changes in blood chemistry)
  • Serious cases may require hospitalization (1 in 70 cases), and though rare, 1 in 200,000 children die from rotavirus in first-world countries.
• Treatment
  • There is no specific cure for rotavirus. IV fluids and oral rehydration help prevent dangerous dehydration, but the virus must run its course.
• Prevention
  • The rotavirus vaccine is the best way to protect children from severe illness. Before the vaccine, rotavirus was a major cause of hospitalizations and deaths in young children.

The Rotavirus Vaccines remain the best protection against Rotavirus. Stay protected. Stay informed.

 

Here is a video that goes into more detail about Rotavirus.