Rotavirus Infection

Rotavirus is a virus that mainly affects children. Each year, rotavirus infections cause nearly 600,000 deaths among children worldwide. According to MedicineNet, in a survey of 600 U.S. mothers of children under the age of 3, 70 percent admitted to hearing little to no information about the rotavirus infection. This is alarming because it's important for mothers to be aware of the symptoms of rotavirus, as almost every child will be affected by it by the time they turn 3. Doctor's offices in the U.S. will see around 400,000 cases of rotavirus every year. The death toll is much lower than that, however--around 100 children die from complications of the rotavirus infection annually in the U.S.

The Facts

• Rotavirus is a wheel-shaped virus that infects the bowels. It is the leading cause of severe diarrhea in infants and children. Most children have several bouts with rotavirus in their early years, and eventually develop immunity to it. While the virus mainly affects children, it is possible for adults to become infected as well. However, adult infections are usually less severe. Rotavirus infections are most prevalent between November and May.

Transmission

• Rotavirus is mainly transmitted through the stool of an infected person. It is highly contagious and an infection can occur from simply forgetting to wash your hands after using the bathroom. Touching your mouth after coming in contact with an infected surface can also result in an infection. Eating contaminated food and drinking contaminated water can bring about a rotavirus infection. The virus can live for hours on your hands and for days on hard, dry surfaces.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of a rotavirus infection are often noticed within two days of contracting the virus. Symptoms include: vomiting, fever, profuse diarrhea and abdominal pain. The body can become dehydrated due to the severe diarrhea, so it is important to watch for signs of dehydration, such as cool skin, dry mouth, lethargy, a sunken soft spot in infants, intense thirst and a lack of tears when crying.

Diagnosis and Treatment

• Diagnosing a rotavirus infection is often as simple as analyzing a stool sample. There are no medications to fight off the virus, and it goes away on its own, usually within nine days. While dealing with a rotavirus infection, it is crucial to keep the child hydrated. A small percentage of children, usually around one in 40, will need to be hospitalized due to dehydration. The hospital treats the child with intravenous fluids to keep them hydrated.

Prevention

• Rotavirus infections can often be prevented by practicing good hygiene. Wash your hands often and carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when you're out and about. Bringing along a travel-size pack of antibacterial wipes is a good idea if you are going shopping. Wipe the cart handle off with them before using it. There are special seat covers for young children that fit inside shopping cart. These help to protect them from germs and viruses.