What you need to know
- Rotavirus is a highly contagious virus that causes fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain.
- In babies and young children, it can lead to life-threatening dehydration that may require hospitalization.
- The rotavirus vaccine is the best way to protect against serious illness. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends it for all babies starting at 2 months.
Rotavirus is a highly contagious intestinal infection, and cases are rising now. People of all ages can get sick with rotavirus, but it’s most common—and most dangerous—in babies and young children.
“The best way to deal with rotavirus is to prevent it,” Dr. Paul Offit, co-inventor of the RotaTeq rotavirus vaccine and director of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Vaccine Education Center, tells Public Good News. “Vaccines prevent hospitalizations and save lives.”
Here’s what families should know about how rotavirus spreads, its symptoms, and how vaccination can help protect children from severe illness.
How does rotavirus spread?
Rotavirus spreads through contact with an infected person’s stool. Even tiny amounts that are too small to see can spread the virus.
People can become infected by touching contaminated surfaces, eating food prepared by someone who did not wash their hands, or changing a diaper and not washing their hands afterward.
The virus spreads most often in childcare centers, hospitals, and households. People with rotavirus can spread the virus before symptoms begin and for several days after they recover.
What are the symptoms?
Rotavirus symptoms may include:
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
Symptoms usually last three to eight days. In babies and young children, frequent diarrhea and vomiting can quickly lead to dehydration, which can become serious if not treated.
“Rotavirus causes diarrhea that can be severe in young infants because the dehydration can be overwhelming for a baby,” says Dr. Ravi Jhaveri, the Division Head of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Lurie Children’s Hospital and a professor of pediatrics at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine. “In my training prior to use of the vaccine, we would care for many infants each year who needed to be hospitalized for intravenous fluids.”
Signs of dehydration include:
- Fewer wet diapers or less frequent urination
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth and throat
- Unusual sleepiness or difficulty waking up
- Few or no tears when crying
Contact a health care provider if your child shows signs of dehydration. If your child is disoriented, difficult to wake, or unresponsive, seek emergency medical care right away.
Why are rotavirus cases rising now?
Rotavirus infections typically increase during the winter and spring. Experts say current case numbers are higher than usual due to declining vaccination rates.
In 2018, 77 percent of children received the full vaccination series by 8 months, compared to 74 percent in 2024. Offit warns that recent federal vaccine policy changes could drive vaccination rates even lower.
Earlier this year, federal officials briefly changed how rotavirus vaccination was presented in federal guidance, prompting concerns from vaccine experts. A court later halted those changes, and routine rotavirus vaccination remains recommended for all infants by major medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“I think the reason that [some parents aren’t vaccinating their children] is that we have a secretary of Health and Human Services who has cast doubt on the vaccine … by putting out a vaccine schedule that listed rotavirus as shared clinical decision-making, which implied that one could reasonably make the decision not to get that vaccine,” Offit says.
How can families protect against rotavirus?
Vaccination offers the strongest protection against severe rotavirus illness.
“It induces an immune response without having to pay the price of natural infection,” Offit explains.
The vaccine is given by mouth, not by injection. Two vaccines are available:
- RotaTeq: Three doses at 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months
- Rotarix: Two doses at 2 months and 4 months
Both vaccines have been thoroughly tested to ensure they’re safe.
“I think all parents want to protect their young infants,” Jhaveri says. “This vaccine has a track record going on 20 years with excellent protection. It would not only protect your baby from the most severe forms of illness, but it could also protect parents and grandparents who care for the baby from getting infected.”
The AAP recommends that all babies receive the rotavirus vaccine.
Families can also reduce the spread by washing their hands frequently, especially after using the bathroom, changing diapers, before preparing food, and before eating.
How is rotavirus treated?
There is no medication that specifically treats rotavirus, which is why vaccination is so important.
Treatment focuses on preventing dehydration and managing symptoms. Children with mild illness may recover at home with plenty of fluids, including oral rehydration or electrolyte drinks. Acetaminophen, commonly sold as Tylenol, may help reduce fever.
Children with severe dehydration may need hospital care and intravenous (IV) fluids.
If your child has symptoms of rotavirus, keep them home from school or daycare until they’ve recovered.