Rotavirus: symptoms, course, and when to see a doctor

Rotavirus is a very common infection, especially in infants and young children: children easily pass the virus to other children and sometimes to adults. The illness is recognized by severe diarrhea, vomiting, and fever, and the main danger is dehydration. Below is how the infection begins, how long it lasts, and when a doctor is needed.

What rotavirus infection is and how it is transmitted

Rotavirus causes gastroenteritis — inflammation of the stomach and intestines. The infection is highly contagious. Cases are more often recorded in winter and spring.

Almost all children have rotavirus before age five. In most, the illness resolves within a few days, but some children lose so much fluid that they need hospital treatment. Very rarely, the infection is life-threatening.

There is a vaccine against rotavirus: it prevents infection in about 8 out of 10 vaccinated infants. It does not protect against diarrhea and vomiting of other origins, such as norovirus.

First signs of rotavirus: how the illness begins

About two days pass from infection to the first symptoms. Then severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and dehydration appear.

A sign of dehydration is fewer wet diapers than usual. If the child stops eating, an in-person doctor's assessment is needed.

Symptoms in children and what is known about adults

In children, the illness manifests as severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and dehydration — it is the loss of fluid that makes the infection dangerous.

There is no separate description of symptoms in adults, nor information on the specific course of rotavirus during pregnancy. If in doubt, consult a doctor.

Can rotavirus occur without fever, vomiting, or diarrhea

The typical set of signs is severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and dehydration. There is no separate description of rotavirus without diarrhea or without vomiting: the illness is identified by the combination of symptoms.

The course varies, but in most children the illness resolves within a few days.

How long rotavirus infection lasts and what complications occur

There is no medicine that acts on the virus itself. The doctor assesses the degree of dehydration and decides whether hospital care is needed, where fluids are given intravenously.

• about two days — from infection to the first symptoms;
• three to eight days — the usual duration of diarrhea and vomiting;
• more than seven days of diarrhea — a reason to see a doctor;
• up to five years — the age by which almost all children have had rotavirus.

The main complication is dehydration: it is because of fluid loss that some children need hospital care.

Intussusception — bowel obstruction — is a very rare risk of vaccination: it is possible within a week after vaccination. Children who have had intussusception before or have an increased risk of developing it are not given the vaccine.

When to see a doctor

The doctor may order a stool test, including a rotavirus antigen test.

Urgent medical attention is needed if diarrhea lasts more than seven days, the child shows signs of dehydration (fewer wet diapers), there is blood in the stool or it looks like "red currant jelly," the abdomen is swollen and painful, the child is vomiting constantly, or has stopped eating.

Rotavirus itself is not a reason to call an ambulance: 103 or 112 are needed if the child's condition deteriorates rapidly and there are signs of a life-threatening condition.

This material is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer