What You Need to Know about Rotavirus

The name rotavirus was suggested by Thomas Henry Flewett in 1974 after he observed that a rotavirus particle looks like a wheel (rota in Latin) when viewed through an electron microscope.
There are nine species of rotavirus, consisting of Rotavirus A, B, C, D, F, G, H, I and J.
Rotavirus A is the most common species, causing the majority (>90%) of rotavirus infections in humans.
It is also the most common cause of severe diarrhoea among infants and young children.
It is estimated that every child would have been infected by rotavirus at least once by the age of five.
A study published in 2016 estimated that rotavirus causes 27 deaths, 31,000 hospitalisations and 41,000 outpatient visits in Malaysia annually.

Rotavirus is a highly contagious virus that is transmitted by the faecal-oral route.
The viruses are shed in high amount in the stool of infected people and spread easily through hand-to-mouth and close person-to-person contact, as well as by fomites (surfaces and objects, like door handles and toys), foods and beverages, and unclean water.
The virus is very stable and may remain viable in the environment for a long time, up to weeks, if there is no disinfection process.

Typical signs include gastrointestinal symptoms, which generally resolve in 3-7 days and are non-specific, such as:

Beware of severe dehydration in your child as this can be life-threatening! Here are the signs:

Consult a doctor if your child is showing any symptoms of severe rotavirus infection or dehydration.
Certain medications may be prescribed to alleviate the symptoms. Note that antibiotics are not effective against viral infections.
The main focus of treatment is to prevent dehydration:
- Babies: Continue feeding them with breast-milk or formula as usual. Oral rehydration solutions (ORS) may be necessary.
- Older children: Give plenty of fluids from drinks or foods. ORS may be prescribed to the child.
- Avoid carbonated drinks, apple juice, dairy products and sugary foods, as these may worsen diarrhoea.

Good hygiene
- Frequent and thorough hand-washing (e.g. after using the toilet, changing your child’s diaper).
- Regular cleaning method is insufficient. The best option is to use a bleach solution (1 part bleach + 9 parts water) to disinfect surfaces/objects.
Rotavirus vaccination
- Vaccination is the primary public health intervention against rotavirus.
- Two types of oral vaccine available: 2-dose series and 3-dose series.
- Can be given as early as age 6 weeks with a minimum interval of 4 weeks between doses and maximum age for any doses at age 8 months.
- Speak to your doctor to learn more about rotavirus vaccination.

An educational contribution by Malaysian Paediatric Association.

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