Rotavirus

  • Virus causes diarrhea and vomiting

Signs and Symptoms

  • Vomiting, diarrhea and low-grade fever. The illness usually lasts for 4-6 days.

Spread

  • Touching objects that have been infected.
  • The virus can also be in the respiratory tract (lungs) so it can spread through coughing and sneezing.
  • It usually takes from 24-72 hours for a person to get sick.

Treatment

  • There is no specific treatment for rotavirus
  • Preventing dehydration is the priority, so be sure to drink plenty of fluids

Prevention

  • There is a vaccine for rotavirus. It is included in the childhood immunization schedule.
  • Good hand washing is best.  Make sure hands are properly washed after using the toilet, changing diapers, helping others toilet, before preparing food, etc.
  • People ill with diarrhea or vomiting should be kept away from others.  Children should not attend childcare centres with diarrhea until a few days after the symptoms have stopped.
  • Wash plush toys and cloth items
  • Clean and disinfect washroom surface and all objects that the sick person touches every day.
  • Use bleach to kill Rotavirus on objects. Mix 1 part bleach with 9 parts water for washroom surfaces. Mix 2mls bleach with 1 liter of water for surfaces that contact food. Do not mix bleach with soap or any other chemical.