Rotavirus is a highly contagious virus that infects nearly all children by their fifth birthday. Each year in the United States, rotavirus is responsible for an estimated:
- 250,000 emergency room visits
- 410,000 visits to doctor’s offices
- 20-60 deaths
- up to 70,000 hospitalizations
Rotavirus symptoms include fever, vomiting, and watery diarrhea. Although symptoms vary, children may experience fever, upset stomach and vomiting, along with frequent watery diarrhea, sometimes multiple times a day. Symptoms typically last three to nine days.
Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Frequently Asked Questions About Rotavirus
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID)
Prevention of Rotavirus Disease: Updated Guidelines for Use of Rotavirus Vaccine
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): Committee on Infectious Diseases
Rotarix Prescribing Information
GlaxoSmithKline
RotaTeq Prescribing Information
Merck & Co., Inc.
Information for healthcare professionals from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
In-depth information from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID)
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
Rotavirus Recursos del Consumidor
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID): Informacion en Espanol
Rotavirus: What You Should Know
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
Merck & Co., Inc.
