Parents and caregivers of young children should watch for signs of rotavirus, a potentially serious and highly contagious infection. Like other viruses that cannot be treated with antibiotics, the rotavirus infection is hard to avoid and recognizing symptoms quickly is important so that symptoms can be managed.⁵

Typically, rotavirus gastroenteritis causes vomiting, fever, abdominal pain and profuse, watery diarrhea.^7,12 Severe cases may have more than 20 episodes of vomiting or diarrhea a day⁶, with episodes of diarrhea lasting for 4 to 5 days^6,12. Vomiting, which characterizes rotavirus, occurs more often and continues for a longer duration than with other gastroenteritis, making oral rehydration difficult. These stomach flu symptoms, if severe, can quickly lead to a dangerous loss of body fluids, putting an infant at serious risk of severe, life-threatening dehydration, in some cases.^12,15

As with the flu, there are different kinds, or types, of rotaviruses. Your child could be exposed to one type of rotavirus first and then a different type later.⁵ In fact, most children get rotavirus infection several times.¹¹ However, the first rotavirus infection is usually the most severe, and any subsequent infections tend to be milder in nature. In addition, each infection builds a child’s natural protection against future infections.

Rotavirus is unpredictable⁵ — it can last longer and have more severe symptoms in some children than in others — and can quickly cause severe dehydration. Symptoms may be mild, moderate or severe in any given child. There is no reliable way to determine which child is at risk for serious infection. Rotavirus affects children without regard to their general health, culture, or economic status.⁵

Watch your child for:^4,12

• Fever
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Signs of severe dehydration include:¹⁶

• Tiredness or weakness up to unconsciousness
• An inability to drink
• Deep breathing
• No tears when crying
• Cold extremities (such as hands and feet)

In severe cases, children can suffer from the symptoms of rotavirus gastroenteritis for up to 9 days.⁸

Call your healthcare professional immediately if your child is having any of these symptoms.