Rotavirus

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea among infants and young children. It is a genus of double-stranded RNA virus in the family Reoviridae. Nearly every child in the world has been infected with rotavirus at least once by the age of five.

Causes

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea among infants and young children. It is a genus of double-stranded RNA virus in the family Reoviridae. Nearly every child in the world has been infected with rotavirus at least once by the age of five.

Signs and Symptoms

Vomiting,Watery diarrhea, and Low-grade fever.DehydrationDry mouth and throat. Once a child is infected by the virus, there is an incubation period of about two days before symptoms appear. Symptoms often start with vomiting followed by four to eight days of profuse diarrhea.

Vaccinations

The vaccines are RotaTeq (RV5) and Rotarix (RV1). Before being licensed, both vaccines were tested in clinical trials and shown to be safe and effective. Both vaccines are oral (taken by mouth and swallowed)There are two brands of rotavirus vaccine. A baby should get either two or three doses, depending on which brand is used.The doses are recommended at these ages:First Dose: 2 months of ageSecond Dose: 4 months of ageThird Dose: 6 months of age (if needed)The first dose may be given as early as six weeks of age, and should be given by age 14 weeks 6 days. The last dose should be given by eight months of age.