General information only. This Parent Resource summarizes CDC rotavirus information and does not diagnose an individual child.
What is rotavirus?
CDC describes rotavirus as a virus that commonly causes illness in infants and young children.
What symptoms can occur?
CDC describes vomiting and watery diarrhoea as characteristic features and notes that fluid loss can lead to dehydration.
How does rotavirus spread?
People infected with rotavirus shed the virus in stool. CDC explains that this allows the virus to contaminate the environment and spread easily in families, hospitals and childcare settings.
What dehydration features does CDC list?
CDC lists decreased urination, dry mouth or throat, crying with few or no tears, dizziness on standing and unusual sleepiness or fussiness among dehydration features.
Who is commonly affected?
Rotavirus disease is most common in infants and young children, although older children and adults can also become infected.
Diarrhoea has many possible causes. This information cannot determine whether a particular episode is caused by rotavirus.
References
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Rotavirus, 22 April 2024.