“Almost every child has had rotavirus at least once by the time they reach 3 years old,” said Dr.Anatole Karpovs, pediatrician at the Children's Clinic of SWLA. “It starts off with fever, then, the child starts vomiting for a couple of days.  Then diarrhea develops which can lead to dehydration.”

            Rotavirus is not a disease to brush off, Karpovs added, since it can become quite serious if the child becomes dehydrated.  “Severe rotavirus infections occur most often between 4-24 months of age.   These children are most likely to need hospitalization.”

            The Center for Disease Control estimates that in the US there are about 400,000 doctor visits a year due to rotavirus; more than 200,000 emergency room visits; 55,000 to 70,000 hospitalizations; and between 20 and 60 deaths.

“While it is important that your child wash his hands, better hygiene and sanitation have not significantly reduced rotavirus disease,” said Karpovs.  “The new vaccine, RotaTeq, is the best way to protect your young child against rotavirus disease.”

              The vaccine, marketed by Merck and company, is a live, oral vaccine to be administered in three doses at 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months of age. Children should get all three doses before 32 weeks of age.

            Rotavirus vaccine will not prevent diarrhea or vomiting caused by other viruses but it is very effective against rotavirus disease.  Studies indicate the vaccine will prevent about 74 per cent of all rotavirus cases, and about 98 percent severe cases requiring hospitalization.

             For children too old to receive the vaccine, Karpovs recommends the following guidelines for treating diarrhea at home to help prevent dehydration:

• Families with infants and small children should keep a supply of special rehydration fluids (Pedialyte, Infalyte, or ReVital) at home at all times and use the solution when diarrhea first occurs in the child.
• Watch for signs of dehydration which occur when a child loses too much fluid and becomes dried out.  Symptoms of dehydration include a decrease in urination, no tears when baby cries, high fever, dry mouth, weight loss, extreme thirst, listlessness, and sunken eyes.

• Keep your pediatrician informed if there is any significant change in how your child is behaving.
• Report if your child has blood in his stool.
• Report is your child develops high fever (more than 102 degrees).
• Continue to feed your child if she is not vomiting.  You may have to give smaller amounts of food than normal or give only foods that do not further upset the stomach.
• Don’t make special salt and fluid combinations at home
• Don’t use boiled milk or salty broth and soups.
• Don’t use “anti-diarrhea” medicines unless prescribed by your pediatrician.