If you’re a parent, you’ve probably heard about rotavirus or maybe you’ve already had to deal with it with your child.
This virus, which represents the most common cause of gastroenteritis in young children, deserves all our attention, especially because today we have effective tools to prevent it.
Let’s take a journey together to discover this pathogen, understanding how to recognize it and, most importantly, how to protect our children.
A microscopic and resistant enemy
The name “rotavirus” was coined when Thomas Henry Flewett, observing the virus under an electron microscope, noticed its characteristic wheel-like shape.
This virus is incredibly resistant and can survive in the environment for several weeks, from 9 to 19 days, waiting to find a new host.
How does rotavirus spread among children?
Imagine an invisible chain connecting children to each other: rotavirus is primarily transmitted through what doctors call the oral-fecal route, but also through contact with contaminated objects or respiratory droplets.
It’s so contagious that very few viral particles are enough to cause infection.
To give you an idea, while less than 100 viral particles are enough to get sick, an infected child can eliminate up to 10 trillion per gram in their feces.
10000000000000… per gram! You can understand why it’s incredibly easy to get infected.
What are the signs of Infection?
The virus is like an unwanted guest that shows up without warning: about two weeks after infection, it begins to show its presence.
At first, you might notice that your child has a slight fever, nausea, and vomiting.
After a few days, the situation can evolve with watery diarrhea and stomach pains.
The most vulnerable are young ones between 6 months and 2 years, who tend to develop the most intense symptoms.
When should you worry?
In the case of rotavirus, there are some signals we shouldn’t ignore:
- if diarrhea persists for more than 24 hours
- if vomiting is recurring
- if you notice blood in the stool
- if fever exceeds 40°C
it’s time to call the doctor. But the real concern is dehydration: if you notice your child crying without tears, has a dry mouth, urinates less than usual, or appears unusually drowsy, these are signs that require immediate attention.
Can it be treated?
The good news is that our body knows how to fight rotavirus.
The main challenge is keeping the child well-hydrated during the infection.
There are no specific medications against the virus, but we can help our little one by managing the symptoms.
Rehydration is fundamental: water, mineral salts, and sugars are our allies in this battle.
In some cases, if dehydration becomes severe, a brief hospitalization might be necessary to administer fluids intravenously, but don’t worry: it’s a precautionary measure that helps the child recover more quickly.
Better to vaccinate
And here we are at the most important part: prevention.
Since 2006, we have had two effective and safe vaccines against rotavirus.
These are vaccines administered orally and are specific for type A of the virus, responsible for 90% of infections.
It’s a true revolution in protecting the youngest: before the introduction of vaccines, in the United States alone there were 2.7 million cases per year, with 60,000 hospitalizations.
Globally, the virus caused almost half a million deaths of children under 5 years.
The decision to vaccinate your child is one of the most important a parent can make.
Rotavirus vaccines have been carefully studied and have proven to be safe and effective.
They are so important that more than 100 countries worldwide have the license to use them, although currently only 28 have included them in their routine vaccination programs.
Vaccination, along with good hygiene practices, represents the best protection we can offer our children.
Remember that in the days after the vaccine, you’ll need to use gloves for about a week when cleaning your baby at each diaper change, to avoid contamination risk.
We are with you
Despite rotavirus remaining a significant challenge, especially in developing countries, today we have the tools to protect our children.
We at Parentalife are here to support you throughout your parenting journey.
We do this with our guides, courses and with personalized consultations.
Remember, we are with you.
SOURCES
Parashar UD, Nelson EA, Kang G. Diagnosis, management, and prevention of rotavirus gastroenteritis in children. BMJ. 2013 Dic 30;347:f7204. doi: 10.1136/bmj.f7204. PMID: 24379214; PMCID: PMC5776699.