Things you need to know about rotavirus

How is rotavirus transmitted?

Rotavirus is mainly transmitted through the fecal-oral route. There is a large amount of rotavirus in the feces (or vomit) of patients infected with it (mainly babies). If the food, drink and utensils are contaminated by the feces (or vomit) of infected people, rotavirus can be directly or indirectly transmitted to others.

What are the symptoms of rotavirus infection?

Vomit and diarrhea.

The sick baby will vomit at first, followed by diarrhea of different degrees, most of them experience fever too.

An infected baby should get rehydrated, and can be cured without medicine. However, if the baby is suffering from serious diarrhea (vomit), you should take the baby to the hospital immediately. Severe dehydration may cause shock or even death in infants, especially those younger than one year old. A small number of infants infected with rotavirus will also develop complications such as myocarditis, convulsions and pneumonia, which require medical treatment as well.

What should we do to prevent rotavirus?

1. There is no special anti-rotavirus medicine. Therefore, inoculation of rotavirus vaccine is the most effective measure to prevent rotavirus acute gastroenteritis.

2.Babies and their parents (including the babies’ caregivers) should develop good hygiene habits, especially hand hygiene, and not touch their mouth, eyes, nose and food with unclean hands.

3. Pay attention to family hygiene, maintain good ventilation, clean babys’ tableware (baby bottles, bowls, spoons, etc.) before use, and change and clean their clothes, quilts and toys frequently.

4. Encourage and stick with breastfeeding.

5.Items contaminated by rotavirus should be thoroughly disinfected by means of high temperature, disinfectant or sunlight exposure.