What rotavirus infection is
Rotavirus infection, often called "stomach flu," inflames the stomach and intestines and causes vomiting and watery diarrhea. It most often affects children between 6 months and 5 years old; by that age almost every child has met the virus at least once. Adults can get it too but usually have a milder illness. Antibiotics do not help because it is a virus, not a bacterium.
How rotavirus spreads
The virus spreads by the fecal-oral route: through unwashed hands, toys, dishes, surfaces, water, and food. It is hardy and very contagious, and a few viral particles are enough to infect someone. According to the CDC, a sick child sheds the virus during the illness and for about three days after recovery. Outbreaks are common in daycares and families, more often in the cold season. Thorough hand washing with soap and water is one of the main ways to prevent it.
Rotavirus symptoms in children
- vomiting, often from the very start;
- frequent watery stools, sometimes frothy, without blood;
- fever and stomach pain;
- poor appetite, tiredness, and fussiness.
Symptoms usually appear 1 to 3 days after exposure and last 3 to 8 days. Stomach pain and diarrhea also come with food poisoning, so a doctor determines the cause. For similar conditions, see abdominal pain and food poisoning.
Why rotavirus is dangerous
The main danger is dehydration: a small child loses fluid fast through vomiting and stools. Without help it can become severe and need an IV drip in the hospital. Signs of dehydration include infrequent urination (few wet diapers), dry lips and tongue, crying without tears, a sunken soft spot in an infant, and drowsiness. Dehydration is why rotavirus remains a common reason small children with gastrointestinal infections are hospitalized.
How rotavirus is treated
There is no antiviral medicine; treatment focuses on replacing fluids: give an oral rehydration solution from the pharmacy in small, frequent sips. Do not stop feeding or breastfeeding. Do not give antibiotics or anti-diarrhea drugs unless a doctor prescribes them. The pediatrician will choose fever medicine, the solution, and the feeding plan based on the child's age and weight. If the child drinks and urinates, recovery usually happens at home under the doctor's supervision.
The rotavirus vaccine
Vaccination is the best protection. It does not rule out the illness entirely but markedly lowers the risk of severe disease and hospital stays. In Georgia, the rotavirus vaccine is part of the national immunization calendar: two doses, at 2 and 3 months (Minister's Order No. 01-60/n, version of July 13, 2023). Calendar vaccines are free for children under 18 under the state program. The vaccine is given as drops by mouth. Georgian clinics offer Rotarix (2 doses) and RotaTeq (3 doses). One important limit: the series must start in the first months of life (under the calendar order, the first dose should be given before 16 weeks of age and the series finished by 24 weeks), so do not postpone the pediatrician visit. A very rare complication of the vaccine is intussusception, a bowel blockage: if your baby has severe crying that comes and goes, vomiting, or blood in the stool in the first weeks after a dose, call an ambulance at 112 right away. Clinic prices for the vaccine in Georgia are shown below on this page. Beyond the vaccine, washing hands after the toilet and diaper changes, keeping toys clean, and using safe drinking water help. You can compare with prevention of other infections, such as hepatitis A.
When to see a doctor urgently
- a child under 6 months with vomiting and diarrhea;
- signs of dehydration: no urine for 6 to 8 hours, no tears, dry lips, a sunken soft spot, drowsiness;
- repeated vomiting and the child cannot drink;
- blood or mucus in the stool, black stool, high fever, or severe stomach pain;
- diarrhea lasting more than a few days.
