Rotavirus Infection in Infants – What you need to know

Rotavirus infection may also be called the stomach flu. This condition is caused by a virus. This virus can be passed from person to person very easily (is very contagious).

This condition may affect your infant’s stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. It can cause sudden watery diarrhea, fever, and vomiting.

Diarrhea and vomiting can make your baby feel weak and cause your baby to become dehydrated. Your baby may not be able to keep fluids down.

Dehydration can make your baby tired and thirsty, cause your baby to have a dry mouth, and decrease how often your baby urinates. Dehydration can develop very quickly in a baby, and can be very dangerous.

It is important to replace the fluids that your baby loses from diarrhea and vomiting. If your baby becomes severely dehydrated, he or she may need to get fluids through an IV tube.

What are the causes?

This condition is caused by rotavirus. Your baby can get sick by eating food, drinking water, or touching a surface that is contaminated with this virus. Your baby can also catch a virus by sharing utensils or other personal items with an infected person.

What increases the risk?

This condition is more likely to develop during winter, and is more likely to develop in babies who:

• Are not vaccinated against the virus. Your baby can be vaccinated once he or she is 2 months old.
• Are not breastfed.
• Attend a daycare facility.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of this condition may occur 1–4 days after your baby becomes infected. Fever may be the first symptom, followed by:

• Loss of appetite.
• Vomiting.
• Diarrhea.
• Belly pain. This may make your baby irritable.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition is diagnosed based on your baby’s medical history and a physical exam. Your baby may also have a stool test to check for the virus.

How is this treated?

This condition typically goes away on its own. The focus of treatment is to avoid dehydration and restore lost fluids (rehydration). Your baby’s health care provider may recommend that your baby takes an oral rehydration solution (ORS) to replace important salts and minerals (electrolytes) in the body. Severe cases of this condition may require giving fluids through an IV tube.

Follow these instructions at home:

Follow instructions from your baby’s health care provider about how to care for your baby at home.

Eating and drinking

Follow these recommendations as told by your baby’s health care provider:

• Give your baby an ORS. This is a drink that is sold at pharmacies and retail stores.
• Continue to breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby often. Do not add water to the formula or breast milk.
• Encourage your baby to eat soft foods in small amounts, if your baby is eating solid food. Continue your baby’s regular diet, but avoid spicy and fatty foods. Do not give your baby new foods.
• Avoid giving your baby fluids that contain a lot of sugar, such as juice.

General instructions

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer. Make sure that everyone in your baby’s household washes their hands frequently.
• Give over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your baby’s health care provider.
• Watch your baby’s condition for any changes.
• To prevent diaper rash:
  • Change diapers frequently.
  • Clean the diaper area with warm water on a soft cloth.
  • Dry the diaper area and apply a diaper ointment.
  • Make sure that your baby’s skin is dry before you put a diaper on him or her.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your baby’s health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your baby who is younger than 3 months old has diarrhea and vomiting.
• Your baby will not drink fluids or cannot keep fluids down.
• Your baby has a fever.

Get help right away if:

• You notice signs of dehydration in your baby, such as:
  • No wet diapers in 6 hours.
  • Cracked lips.
  • Not making tears while crying.
  • Dry mouth.
  • Sunken eyes.
  • Sleepiness.
  • Weakness.
  • A sunken soft spot (fontanel) on his or her head.
  • Dry skin that does not flatten after being gently pinched.
  • Increased fussiness.
• Your baby has stools that are bloody or black, or stools that look like tar.
• Your baby’s diarrhea or vomiting gets worse or does not get better after 12 hours.
• Your baby seems to be in pain and has a tender or swollen belly.
• Your baby has trouble breathing or is breathing very quickly.
• Your baby’s heart is beating very quickly.
• Your baby feels cold and clammy.
• You are unable to wake up your baby.