Rotavirus. Even if you haven’t heard its name, odds are you have met it. Rotavirus is the most common cause of vomiting and diarrhea in infants and young children. It is the cause of thousands of days of illness, days missed at work and hospitalization. Almost all children in the United States are infected before their fifth birthday. Rotavirus illness peaks between November and May.

How is rotavirus spread? It is spread from person to person. Rotavirus is a hearty virus that can live on surfaces for a long time. It is easily spread in places where children hang out such as daycares and preschools.

What are the symptoms of rotavirus? Symptoms include:
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Fever

The illness starts with vomiting, with diarrhea following closely behind. After a few days the vomiting stops but the diarrhea can last for a few weeks.

How do I know if my child is sick enough to be seen at the clinic? Your child may show these signs of dehydration:
• Dry mouth and lips
• Decreased tears
• Decreased urination
• Sunken eyes
• Dry skin

How can I get my child the vaccine? The vaccine will only be given to newborn infants between the ages of six and twelve months. Older children are not eligible. The vaccine will be given as a series of three vaccines. It will be given at the well visits at two, four and six months of age. The best news of all is—it’s not a shot! It is a liquid that will be squirted into your child’s mouth and can be given along with the other routine immunizations.

About 98 percent of infants who get the vaccine are protected from severe diarrhea and 74 percent will not get diarrhea at all. Side effects tend to be mild and may include a few loose stools or an episode of vomiting.

Be aware that the vaccine guards against only vomiting and diarrhea caused by rotavirus, not by other causes of these symptoms.

Is the vaccine safe? The vaccine has been tested on tens of thousands of children and found to be safe as well as effective. You may have heard that there were problems with a previous rotavirus vaccine. This vaccine is made from different components.

Children should not get the vaccine if they are allergic to any component of the vaccine. Children who are moderately ill at the time of vaccination should wait until they recover.

Why should I vaccinate? Immunizing your child is the best way to prevent the disease. After vaccination there will be:
• Less chance of your child having a severe case of vomiting and diarrhea
• Less chance of your child requiring hospitalization due to dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea
• Fewer visits to the doctor
• Less missed work days for adults
• Less chance of viral spread to other members of your family

Can I protect my children if they are too old to get the vaccine? Newborns will be receiving the new vaccination but older children, who are less at risk, will not. In this case, we may tell you to give your child a rehydration solution that replaces liquids as well as important electrolytes. These liquids are designed to replace the water and salts that are lost through vomiting and diarrhea. If the dehydration becomes severe, your child may need to go to the emergency room for fluids given through the vein (IV fluids).

Since you can only get rotavirus from another person, good hand washing is essential. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends this technique:
• Wet hands with warm running water
• Add soap and rub hands together to make a soapy lather
• Lather the front and back of the hands, between the fingers and under the fingernails
• Keep lathering for at least ten seconds
• Rinse hands well, letting the water run down off the fingertips
• Dry hands with a clean towel, turning the faucet off with the towel

Carry waterless hand cleaner around with you in case soap and water are not available.

Keep all areas where your children play clean. Use an alcohol-based cleaner on the hard surfaces in your home. Throw dirty diapers away and keep them away from other children.

When will the vaccine be available? It is available now in all our clinics at your infant’s two-month check. Call your Partners in Pediatrics clinic for further information.