Rotavirus is a very unpredictable infection, as it can be mild, moderate or severe in any given child⁵. In other words, there is no way to predict which children will be affected with severe cases of it. However, children infected with rotavirus are more likely to suffer from severe dehydration compared to infection with other viral pathogens, because of the profuse diarrhea, vomiting and fever induced by rotavirus.⁶ If an infant develops a severe case of rotavirus gastroenteritis, the number of vomiting or diarrhea episodes may make it very difficult to keep enough fluids in him or her.¹² If this happens, hospitalization may be necessary to prevent life-threatening dehydration.^5,12

In a study conducted in Ontario, it was shown that 1 out of 4 children who contracted rotavirus and saw a physician from a pediatric practice subsequently required a visit to the emergency department.⁴ In addition, in a study conducted in Québec, children with rotavirus infection were more likely to need intravenous (IV) fluids to treat dehydration than those who had gastroenteritis from another cause.²⁰ The most serious cases occur in children between the ages of 6 and 36 months.^3,4