A. Disease
- What is gastroenteritis?
- What causes gastroenteritis?
- How do you catch rotavirus?
- If rotavirus is so common why have I never heard of it?
- How serious is rotavirus infection?
- What are the first signs of rotavirus infection?
- How soon after exposure do symptoms appear?
- Do all children get all the symptoms?
- How bad is the diarrhoea?
- Why is dehydration so dangerous?
- Is dehydration life-threatening?
- How will my GP tell if my baby has rotavirus?
- My child has already had rotavirus infection so is she protected from getting it again?
- Can older children get rotavirus?
- How soon can my child go back to nursery after a bout of gastroenteritis?
- Who is at risk of a rotavirus infection?
- How common is rotavirus infection?
B. Prevention & Management
Disease
Q: What is gastroenteritis?
A: Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the gut usually caused by infection.
It causes diarrhoea, and may also cause vomiting, tummy pain and fever.
Q: What causes gastroenteritis?
A: It can have a range of causes, but, worldwide, the most frequent
cause of gastroenteritis in children under five years old is a virus
called rotavirus.
Q: How do you catch rotavirus?
A: Rotavirus is easily spread by hand-to-mouth
contact, when the virus is on the hands. The virus is present in diarrhoea
and vomit. Children can get the virus on their hands after they go to
the toilet if they have not washed their hands thoroughly, then spread
it by touching other children, playing with toys or touching objects
like door handles or drinking cups.
Q: If rotavirus is so common why have I never heard of it?
A: Doctors do not routinely test for rotavirus as the initial steps
for dealing with diarrhoea and vomiting
in babies and young children are the same regardless of the cause.
Q: How serious is rotavirus infection?
A: Rotavirus infection can be very unpleasant, causing the babies or
children to feel quite poorly. Most children will recover without
any serious complications. Some children become very ill with severe
vomiting and diarrhoea and even life-threatening dehydration
and it is difficult to predict which children will end up being that
ill. Every year in England and Wales, around one child out of 38 under 5 will end up in hospital due to rotavirus.
Q: What are the first signs of rotavirus infection?
A: Generally rotavirus infection starts with fever and vomiting followed
by diarrhoea. The severity of the infection varies from child to child
and can range from one symptom to a variety of symptoms.
Q: How soon after exposure do symptoms appear?
A: Illness usually begins two or three days after the child has come
into contact with the virus.
Q: Do all children get all the symptoms?
A: No, some children have very few signs of infection, while others
may suffer a number of unpleasant effects.
Q: How bad is the diarrhoea?
A: Some children suffer only mild diarrhoea, while others can have quite
severe episodes. It is hard to predict. The symptoms can last for up
to a week, sometimes longer and children can lose body fluids very quickly
leading to dehydration.
Q: Why is dehydration so dangerous?
A: Water is essential to the normal working of the body. Dehydration
is an excessive loss of fluids and some electrolytes from
the body. This leads to a change in the vital balance of chemical substances
in the body, so it cannot function properly.
Q: Is dehydration life-threatening?
A: It can be. If not treated appropriately, severe dehydration
can be life-threatening. It can require admission to hospital and an
intravenous drip may be necessary to restore
the loss of fluids. If your child shows signs of dehydration or
you are concerned, you should contact your doctor or NHS Direct on 0845
4647.
To learn more about the signs of dehydration, visit our symptoms section.
Q: How will my GP tell if my baby has rotavirus?
A: It is impossible for doctors to identify a rotavirus
infection from symptoms alone, although many doctors report the diarrhoea
caused by rotavirus has a particularly foul smell. A confirmation of
rotavirus can only be made by sending a faeces sample
to a laboratory. As the initial steps for dealing with diarrhoea and
vomiting in babies and young children are the same regardless of the
cause, your doctor may not test for the virus.
Q: My child has already had rotavirus
infection so is she protected from getting it again?
A: Unfortunately not. Children who have been infected once can become
infected again. However the first infection is usually the worst.
Q: Can older children get rotavirus?
A: Older children and adults can also get rotavirus
infection. Young children can pass the virus to their older brothers
and sisters. However it is most common in the under fives.
Q: How soon can my child go back to nursery after a bout of
diarrhoea and/or vomiting?
A: You should keep them away from other children until they have been free of symptoms for 48 hours after
their symptoms stop.
Q: Who is at risk of a rotavirus
infection?
A: Every child is likely to be infected with rotavirus at least once
in the first 5 years of life.
Q: How common is rotavirus infection?
A: Rotavirus is the most common cause of
diarrhoea and vomiting in young children. 95 per cent of children will
have had rotavirus gastroenteritis by their fifth birthday, and about
one in four in England and Wales will visit their GP because of it.
Prevention and Management
Q: How can I prevent my child catching rotavirus?
A: It is unlikely you can prevent your child catching the virus especially
if they are mixing with other children at playgroup or nursery. It is very common among children
and spreads very rapidly.
Q: Doesn’t bottle feeding cause rotavirus?
I’m breast feeding so surely my child is immune?
A: Breast feeding does provide your child with a certain level of protection
– that you pass on through your breast milk. But breast feeding
doesn’t give life-long immunity and rotavirus gastroenteritis has
been reported in infants who were being exclusively breastfed.
Q: What can I do to protect my child?
A: If your child is infected you can limit the spread by paying special
attention to hygiene for other members of the family. Have a strict
routine for hand washing, especially before meals. Keep other children
away from the sick child and try not to let them share toys, face cloths,
soap, towels etc. However as it is so highly contagious,
this will not necessarily stop them getting it. For more information,
visit our section on Prevention.
Q: What is the management of rotavirus infection?
A: The most effective therapy is to encourage sick children to take
frequent small sips of water or other suitable fluid to avoid dehydration
developing. Antibiotics are of no use for viral infections.
Q: When should I call the doctor?
A: If your child shows any of the signs of dehydration,
or you are concerned about them, please contact your GP or call NHS
Direct on 0845 4647. It is vital for all parents to be able to recognise
the signs of dehydration in a baby or child, as the condition may need
urgent medical attention. You can find out about the symptoms of dehydration
here.
Contagious – A disease that is spread from one person to another by ordinary social contact. All contagious diseases are infectious.
Dehydration – A condition where an individual has lost water or fluids, which have not been replaced. Dehydration can be serious. Severe diarrhoea or vomiting can lead to dehydration. Babies are at increased risk of dehydration. Treatment involves fluid and electrolyte replacement.
Intravenous - the giving of a liquid or medicine directly into a vein.
Rotavirus – Rotavirus is a virus that can cause gastroenteritis. It is the most common cause of diarrhoea and vomiting in young children.
Stool (also known as faeces) – The solid waste matter that is passed from the body as a bowel movement.
Rotavirus can be present up to 2 days before a child shows any sign of infection 
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