﻿ Rotavirus: Learn About Causes, Treatment and the Vaccine

Rotavirus Infection

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Rotavirus infection facts

  • Most unvaccinated children become infected with rotavirus by age 3.
  • Rotavirus causes the following symptoms and signs:
  • Rotavirus infection is highly contagious. The incubation period is typically about two days.
  • Two vaccines to prevent rotavirus infection are available: RotaTeq and Rotarix. Vaccines should be completed before an infant reaches 8 months of age.

What is rotavirus?

Rotavirus is a virus that infects the bowels, causing a severe gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and bowels). Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea among infants and children throughout the world and causes the death of about 500,000 children worldwide annually. The name rotavirus comes from the characteristic wheel-like appearance of the virus when viewed by electron microscopy (the name rotavirus is derived from the Latin rota, meaning "wheel").




Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 9/29/2015

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Learn about rotavirus infection prevention and vaccination.

Rotavirus Infection

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Rotavirus infection is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in children in less developed countries where access to the rotavirus vaccine is limited. The infection causes significant fever, vomiting, and diarrhea in children. This can often lead to serious problems with dehydration, especially in very young children and infants.