My baby has severe diarrhea . What could it be ?

It could be rotavirus . It is the most common cause of diarrhea in infants and children worldwide. Rotavirus causes gastroenteritis which in turn leads to inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Infection is more common in winter and spring. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), before the vaccine, rotavirus infected almost all children in the United States by age 5 . This infection is extremely contagious.

How does rotavirus spread ?

You can get the virus through hand to mouth contact with the stool of an infected person. Rotavirus is present in the stool of an infected individual several days before symptoms appear and up to about 10 days after symptoms subside.

Who is at risk ?

People highly susceptible to rotavirus includes :

 
• infants ages 4 months to 24 months especially those in daycare settings
• older people
• adults who care for young children have an increased risk of infection

Apart from diarrhea, what other symptoms will I experience ?

You may also experience the following symptoms apart from severe diarrhea :

 
• abdominal pain
• dehydration
• loss of appetite

Is there any treatment for rotavirus ?

There is no antiviral drug available to treat rotavirus. The infections usually resolves on its own within 3 to 8 days.

You must however drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Ask about oral rehydration fluid such as Pedialyte if diarrhea persists.

Can I protect myself from rotavirus ?

The rotavirus vaccine protects against rotavirus. It is given in 2 or 3 doses before the age of 8 months usually around

 
• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months (not needed if the Rotarix brand of vaccine was given at 2 and 4 months)

 
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