Rotavirus
What is it?
- The most common stomach bug amongst children.
- Lives in the intestines of infected people.
- This bacteria can be passed on when a healthy person comes into contact with the faeces of an infected person. For example by waste water that has been poorly treated before drinking or by food that has been handled by hands that have not been washed properly after using the toilet.
How does it spread?
- Rotavirus enters the home in or on people or animals. It very rarely arrives in food.
- Ill people or animals leave the germ in their vomit or faeces. It can then be spread throughout the home via hands, toilet surfaces, nappies, or when people touch surfaces. It can also contaminate food as a result of coming into contact with people's hands, surfaces, cloths and cooking utensils.
Who is at risk?
- Anyone can be infected, but children under 5 are most at risk, especially those in nursery because they have reduced immunity and the virus is highly contagious.
- All children can contract the Rotavirus infection, however the older the child the milder the infection is likely to be.
- For most adults the symptoms are very mild, however the elderly are more at risk due to their low immune systems.
Symptoms
- Children infected with Rotavirus usually develop a mild to moderate fever, vomiting and stomach ache, and a temperature characterized by dry, cool skin.
- The vomiting and fever go away after a day or two, followed by watery diarrhoea that lasts up to 9 days.
- Severe dehydration can be a side effect that can require hospital treatment.
Prevent the spread
- Everyone should wash their hands frequently and thoroughly.
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Hygienically clean with a bleach-based cleaner paying particular attention to toilets, potties and other likely contaminated surfaces.
- Handle dirty nappies with care and ensure they are disposed of carefully by putting them in a nappy bag, before putting them in a bin-liner. Doing this ensures that any bacteria are less likely to cause further harm. If you use a nappy bin, make sure you use bleach to clean it after use.
- If someone has diarrhoea, toilets etc should be disinfected after each time they use it.
- Those caring for sick children should wash their hands thoroughly before preparing food or dealing with other young children.
- Clean up any spillages of faeces or vomit immediately.
Disinfect cleaning cloths by soaking them in a solution of dilute bleach overnight and drying them thoroughly.
