Who gets rotavirus infection?
Most children under age 4 have been infected. One-third of parents whose children are infected with rotavirus become ill. Travelers to developing countries, the elderly, and people with debilitative or immunosuppressive conditions may develop rotavirus diarrhea. In the U.S., rotavirus activity is most common in the cooler months of the year (October-April). What are the symptoms of rotavirus infection? The incubation period from exposure to symptoms is approximately 2 days followed by vomiting for 3 days and watery diarrhea for 3-8 days. Fever and abdominal pain occur frequently. Without adequate fluid replacement, the syndrome can result in severe dehydration and death. In the United States, there are approximately 3.5 million rotavirus cases each year. A child has a 2% lifetime chance of being hospitalized for rotavirus diarrhea. There are an estimated 75-125 childhood deaths annually in the U.S. associated with rotavirus caused diarrhea and resulting dehydration. In developing count
