What is rotavirus?

You might not be familiar with the terms “rotavirus” and “rotavirus gastroenteritis”, but you probably have known children that have experienced this potentially serious and highly contagious infection. Rotavirus gastroenteritis (roe-tuh-vir-us gas-tro-en-tur-ry-tus) is highly unpredictable, and there is no way to know which infected children will have severe symptoms.⁵

The infection, which can occur unexpectedly, can cause symptoms such as:⁴

• Fever
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

There are different types (known as “serotypes”) of rotaviruses. A few of these serotypes are responsible for most rotavirus infection in Canada.¹⁰

This means that a child may encounter different types of rotaviruses from one area to another and from one season to the next. Children can be infected with rotavirus on more than one occasion.¹¹

Rotavirus usually starts to occur in the late Fall and tends to end in the Spring in North America.^6, 12 It may occasionally occur during other months as well.^12, 13

Rotavirus most often infects infants and young children. Almost all children are infected with rotavirus in the first few years of life, when they are especially at risk for complications.²

ROTAVIRUS RISKS — WHAT EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW.

Rotavirus gastroenteritis is the leading cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhea in infants and young children below the age of 5, with children aged 6-36 months being at greatest risk for severe cases requiring hospitalization.^3,4

It is so infectious that it can survive for long periods of time on toys and ordinary surfaces found in most homes.⁹ Because rotavirus is relatively resistant to most disinfectants,¹⁴ preventing your child from exposure can be difficult.

The symptoms (vomiting and diarrhea) can quickly lead to dehydration (that is, loss of body water), which can lead to hospitalization in some cases.¹⁵

It is important to recognize symptoms of rotavirus quickly to help prevent dehydration, which in more severe cases can lead to decreased blood volume and a drop in blood pressure.¹⁵ Your child could have more than 20 diarrhea stools or vomiting episodes in a 24-hour period.⁶ In some cases, your child can have diarrhea for 4 to 5 days.^6,12

Call your healthcare professional immediately if your child shows signs of a rotavirus infection.