Worldwide, rotavirus is a major cause of childhood deaths. Illness from rotavirus usually starts with fever, an upset stomach, and vomiting, followed by diarrhea. The diarrhea can be mild to severe and generally will last 3 to 9 days. Severe diarrhea and dehydration occur primarily among children 3 months to 35 months of age. May. Rotavirus illness is very easy to catch.
Children can spread rotavirus both before and after they have signs of being sick.
The virus is often transmitted from one infected child to another by contaminated hands or objects. Washing with soaps or cleansers will not kill the virus, but will help reduce the spread of rotavirus. Infection often leads to bloody diarrhea, and occasionally to kidney failure. Most illness has been associated with eating undercooked, contaminated ground beef. Infection can also occur after drinking raw milk and after swimming in or drinking sewage-contaminated water.