How can I protect my child from rotavirus?
Rotavirus is the most common cause of diarrhea and vomiting in infants and young children. Rotavirus can spread easily from person to person. The virus can stay active on hands and hard surfaces for a long time. This is why it can spread so easily in areas where there are a lot of children, like child care centers and preschools. Most cases occur during the winter months.
There is no way to completely prevent your child from getting rotavirus, but there are things you can do to lower the risk.
Get the vaccine
There is a new vaccine that can prevent or lessen the severity of rotavirus. It is not a shot. The vaccine has 3 doses that are given by mouth at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. It can be given along with other vaccines. The side effects are usually mild and may include a few loose stools or an episode of vomiting.
There are children with certain health problems who should not get the rotavirus vaccine. Talk with your pediatrician if you are concerned about this.
Keep in mind, this vaccine only protects against diarrhea and vomiting caused by rotavirus, not from other illnesses.
Wash hands
Another way you can help prevent the spread of rotavirus (and other infections) is by making sure everyone in your family knows the proper way to wash their hands. Here's how:
Wet hands with warm running water. Add soap. Rub hands together to make a soapy lather. Lather the front and back of hands, between fingers, and under fingernails. Keep lathering for at least 10 seconds. Rinse hands well under warm running water, letting the water run down to the fingertips. Dry hands with a clean towel, using the towel to turn off the faucet. You may also use a waterless hand cleaner in addition to hand washing or if soap and water are not available.
Keep areas clean
While many soaps and disinfectants will not kill the virus, it's still important to keep the areas where your children play as clean as possible. Use an alcohol-based cleaner to clean hard surfaces in your home. Be sure your child's school is kept clean. Also, be sure that dirty diapers are thrown away and kept away from children.
