Information about Rotavirus

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Disease Overview

	What is rotavirus?
	Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in infants and young children.¹ Virtually all children will be infected with rotavirus by the age of 5.^2,3

	What are the symptoms associated with rotavirus gastroenteritis?
	Rotavirus gastroenteritis ranges from mild, watery diarrhea of limited duration to severe diarrhea with vomiting and fever. The severity of rotavirus infection ranges from asymptomatic infection to severe dehydrating gastroenteritis. Symptoms typically include vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, and watery diarrhea, which can persist for 3 to 9 days.⁴

	How is rotavirus transmitted?
	Rotavirus is transmitted primarily through the fecal-oral route, through close person-to-person contact, and through fomites. The virus might also be transmitted in other ways, such as through fecally contaminated food and water and respiratory droplets.¹

	What serotypes commonly cause rotavirus gastroenteritis?
	Rotavirus gastroenteritis can be caused by multiple serotypes. Serotypes G1, G2, G3, and G4 represented >90% of rotavirus infections in the United States.⁵

	Are subsequent infections with rotavirus as severe as the first infection?
	Subsequent infections are generally less severe than the first infection.⁶

	Can someone be reinfected with rotavirus?
	Yes, children can be reinfected with rotavirus several times during their lives. Second infections were mostly likely to be caused by another G serotype.⁶

	What is the incubation period for rotavirus?
	Rotavirus has an incubation period of 1 to 3 days, after which the disease can begin abruptly. Vomiting often precedes diarrhea.³

	How prevalent is rotavirus?
	In 2006, it was estimated that every year in the United States, there were 55,000 to 70,000 hospitalizations and 205,000 to 272,000 emergency department visits due to rotavirus gastroenteritis among children under the age of 5.¹

Disease Information

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CDC Information

AAP Information

CDC=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
AAP=American Academy of Pediatrics

21052295(2)-11/10-RTQ

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Parashar UD, Alexander JP, Glass RI; Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Prevention of rotavirus gastroenteritis among infants and children: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2006;55(RR-12):1–13.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Rotavirus. In: Atkinson W, Wolfe S, Hamborsky J, McIntyre L, eds. Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. 11th ed. Washington, DC: Public Health Foundation; 2009:245-256.

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Cortese MM, Parashar UD; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Prevention of rotavirus gastroenteritis among infants and children: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep. 2009;58(RR-2):1–25.

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Rabel Ma, Ou BS. Rotavirus disease and its prevention in infants and children. Pharmacotherapy. 1999;19:1279-1295.

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Data available on request from Merck & Co. Inc., Professional Services-DAP, WP1-27 PO Box 4, West Point, PA 19486-0004. Please specify information package 20807103(4)-RTQ.

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Velázquez FR, Matson DO, Calva JJ, et al. Rotavirus infection in infants as protection against subsequent infections. N Engl J Med. 1996;335(14):1022–1028.

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