What is rotavirus?
Rotavirus is a virus that infects the lining of the intestine. The virus typically infects children between 6-24 months of age. In the United States, rotavirus is typically a winter disease.
Rotavirus commonly causes severe watery diarrhea and vomiting in infants and young children. Children may become dehydrated and need to be hospitalized.
How does rotavirus spread?
Rotavirus is commonly spread in families, hospitals and childcare centers. People who are infected with rotavirus pass the virus through their stool. It then gets in the environment and can infect other people. You can get the virus if you get virus particles in your mouth by:
Putting unwashed hands that are contaminated with stool particles in your mouth
Touching contaminated objects or surfaces and then putting your fingers in your mouth
Eating contaminated food.
What are the symptoms of rotavirus
The symptoms of rotavirus are severe watery diarrhea, vomiting, fever, stomach pain, loss of appetite, dehydration, decreased urination, dry mouth and throat, feeling dizzy when standing up, unusual sleepiness and fussiness.
Symptoms of the virus usually start 2 days after a person is exposed to the virus. Vomiting and water diarrhea can last 3-8 days.
When do children get the vaccine?
Children need two doses of the hepatitis A vaccine:
First dose: 12-23 months
Second dose: at least 6 months after the first dose.
Does the rotavirus vaccine cause any reactions?
No. The rotavirus vaccine was tested in more than 130,000 children before licensing. Children given the vaccine were not more likely to develop fever, vomiting, diarrhea or other symptoms than those that were not.