Rotavirus: How to Care for Your Child

Rotavirus is an infection that causes diarrhea and vomiting. It's most important to keep your child hydrated by offering plenty of fluids.

Rotavirus is a common cause of viral gastroenteritis ("stomach flu"). Most kids have had it at least once by age 5. Kids are at risk for getting rotavirus because they often do not wash their hands, so germs get in their mouths when they eat or put their hands in their mouths.

Rotavirus causes severe watery diarrhea, sometimes with vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain. Some kids also have a cough and a runny nose. Rotavirus generally lasts a few days, but it can last up to a week. Because rotavirus is a viral illness, antibiotics will not help.

The vomiting and especially the diarrhea caused by rotavirus can cause dehydration in children. Many kids with mild dehydration can drink enough to replace the lost fluids. But when a child has more serious dehydration or isn't able to drink enough, rehydration therapy is given in the hospital.

Rotavirus is often diagnosed with a test of the stool (poop). Additional stool tests might have been done to make sure the infection was not caused by bacteria or parasites. The health care provider also may have done blood or urine tests to check your child for dehydration.

After a physical examination and any tests that were needed, your health care provider found that your child is not seriously dehydrated right now and is able to drink and be cared for at home. It is important to keep your child hydrated while he or she recovers from this illness.

• Don't give anti-diarrheal or anti-nausea medications unless prescribed by your child's health care provider.

• Give acetaminophen for fever or pain as directed.

• Do not give aspirin to your child as it has been linked to a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome.

• For vomiting:

  • Give infants and younger children ½ ounce of oral rehydration solution (1 ounce for older kids), increasing the amount every 15 minutes. These solutions are also available as ice pops, which appeal to young children.

  • If vomiting happens again, try a smaller amount.

  • Don't give full-strength juice or sports drinks.

  • Don't give infants plain water.

  • After 8 hours without vomiting, if your child usually eats solids, give crackers, toast, or rice.

  • Don't give milk until your child is back on a regular diet.

• For diarrhea:

  • Once the vomiting stops, give your child a regular diet and plenty of fluids.

  • Don't give juice, soda, sugary drinks, or fatty food. These can make the diarrhea worse.

Your child:

• Won't drink fluids.

• Develops severe diarrhea.

• Has fever lasting longer than 5 days.

• Has repeated vomiting.

• Develops blood or mucus in the stool.

Your child:

• Vomits blood or bright green bile.

• Has a painful, hard, or firm abdomen.

• Has severe abdominal pain.

• Appears dehydrated; signs include dizziness, drowsiness, a dry or sticky mouth, sunken eyes or soft spot, producing less urine or darker than usual urine, crying with little or no tears.

• The rotavirus vaccine works very well to prevent this illness, and having rotavirus once does not protect a child from getting it again. Check with your health care provider to find out when your child should get the vaccine.

• To prevent the spread of germs, don't change diapers near food. Throw diapers away in plastic bags, and clean changing areas with rubbing alcohol.

• Think prevention! Teach kids to wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating.