Rotavirus is a virus that causes severe diarrhea. It can also cause vomiting, fever and dehydration. It is the leading cause of diarrhea in infants and young children. Almost all children in the U.S. are likely to be infected with rotavirus before their 5th birthday.
Infections happen most often in the winter and spring. It is very easy for children with the virus to spread it to other children and sometimes to adults. Once a child gets the virus, it takes about two days to become sick. Vomiting and diarrhea may last from three to eight days.
Treatment is replacing lost body fluids. Having your child drink products with water, sugar and minerals usually helps. Some children need to go to the hospital for IV fluids. A vaccine can protect your child against the virus.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Rotavirus(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/rotavirus.html
- Rotavirus Disease - Questions & Answers(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/rotavirus/dis-faqs.htm
- Stool Tests(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sick/labtest8.html
- Diarrhea(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/publiced/BR_Diarrhea.htm
- Gastroenteritis: First Aid(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/first-aid-gastroenteritis/FA00030/METHOD=print
- Rotavirus Vaccine(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - Links to PDF - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-rotavirus.pdf
- Rotavirus Vaccine - Questions & Answers(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/rotavirus/vac-faqs.htm
-
Vaccine Information: Rotavirus(National Network for Immunization Information) - http://www.immunizationinfo.org/vaccineInfo/vaccine_detail.cfv?id=17
Also available in Spanish http://www.immunizationinfo.org/vaccineInfo/vaccine_detail.cfv?id=48&l=2
-
Viral Gastroenteritis(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/gastro/faq.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/gastro/faq-sp.htm
- Monitoring of Intussusception After RotaTeq Vaccination - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaers/rotateq.htm
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Rotavirus Infections
(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Rotavirus+Infections%22
- Article: Molecular characterization of VP6-encoding gene of group A human rotavirus... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18814260&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Whole genomic characterization of a human rotavirus strain B219 belonging... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18814255&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: An outbreak of group A rotavirus G1P[8] in an elementary... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18806362&tool=MedlinePlus
- Rotavirus Infections -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(rotavirus+infections[majr]+OR+rotavirus[majr])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(editorial[pt]+OR+letter[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
-
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - http://www.cdc.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/
-
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/
- Rotavirus(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/rotavirus.html
- Diarrhea - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diarrhea.html
- Gastroenteritis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/gastroenteritis.html
- Infections - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infections.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Rotavirus Infections is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - http://www.niaid.nih.gov/
Rotavirus Infections - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/rotavirusinfections.html