The highest rates of illness occur among infants and young children, and most children in the United States are infected by 2 years of age. Adults can also be infected, though disease tends to be mild. Diagnosis may be made by rapid antigen detection of rotavirus in stool specimens. Strains may be further characterized by enzyme immunoassay or reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, but such testing is not commonly done. For persons with healthy immune systems, rotavirus gastroenteritis is a self-limited illness, lasting for only a few days.
Treatment is nonspecific and consists of oral rehydration therapy to prevent dehydration.
About one in 40 children with rotavirus gastroenteritis will require hospitalization for intravenous fluids. More information about rotavirus vaccine is available from the National Immunization Program .