Rotavirus

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Definition Symptoms Causes Risk factors When to seek medical advice

Tests and diagnosis Complications Treatments and drugs Prevention Lifestyle and home remedies

Definition

A child in a child care center develops severe diarrhea. Will the other children get sick, too? It's entirely possible. Despite proper hand washing, viral diarrhea is highly contagious.

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in infants and children worldwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In fact, rotavirus infections are so common that most children have at least one bout with rotavirus by age 2 or 3.

However unpleasant, most rotavirus infections can be treated at home with extra fluids to prevent dehydration. Occasionally, severe dehydration requires intravenous fluids in the hospital. Sadly, dehydration related to rotavirus is a major cause of childhood deaths in developing countries.

Rotavirus infections are most common in the winter and spring. A new vaccine can help prevent rotavirus infections in infants. For older children and adults — who aren't as likely to develop serious signs and symptoms of rotavirus — frequent hand washing is the best line of defense.

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Symptoms