Rotavirus infects nearly all children by age 5 years [2]

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in infants and young children in the US. [2] It affects children of every [14]:

• ethnicity
• culture
• socioeconomic status

Rotavirus infection rates are likely to occur regardless of the quality of [15]:

• water
• food
• sanitation

Severe dehydrating gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus occurs in children as young as 3 months of age. [2]

Infants and young children can be at a higher risk for severe gastroenteritis [2]

Rotavirus infects almost all children. Severe dehydrating gastroenteritis occurs in children as young as 3 months of age. [2] Rotavirus has a variable symptomatology and severity. The incubation period is between 1 and 3 days. [2]

Symptoms vary from child to child, but characteristically are:

• Vomiting initially
• Followed by frequent diarrhea
• Fever >102 degrees F (in up to a third of patients). [2]

Broad spectrum of symptoms in severe disease can lead to hospitalization of children

In this study* of children hospitalized with the symptoms of acute gastroenteritis, the authors concluded that spectrum of symptoms of rotavirus at the time of hospitalization may be broader than previously recognized. [16]

*Study conducted Nov 1997–June 1998 in children 15 days to 4 years of age, N=763.

Rotavirus gastroenteritis severity [2]

Severity ranges from mild, watery diarrhea and/or vomiting of limited duration to severe diarrhea and vomiting that can result in:

• dehydration
• electrolyte imbalance
• shock
• death

Ten percent of body weight can be lost in 1 or 2 days without rehydration therapy. [17]

Rotavirus causes greater incidence of vomiting and dehydration vs. other causes of gastroenteritis in children

In this study, rotavirus was not only more likely to be associated with vomiting and dehydration than other causes of gastroenteritis, but rotavirus-related vomiting lasted longer (mean of 2.6 days compared to 0.9 days). [18]

Pediatric hospitalization for rotavirus: longer stays

Children who are hospitalized for rotavirus diarrhea have been documented as having a significantly longer hospital stay than those children hospitalized for other forms of diarrhea.

One study conducted in New York (from 1993-2000) including over 11,000 diarrhea-associated hospitalizations found that children with [7]:

• rotavirus had a median stay of 3 days
• other causes of diarrhea had a median stay of 2 days

A hospital stay can be indicative of more severe disease requiring longer in-hospital treatment.

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