This happens when children forget to wash their hands after
using the bathroom or before eating.
How is it treated? Controlling your child's intake of food and liquid can help stop
her vomiting and diarrhea.
If there is diarrhea but no vomiting, it's usually okay to
give your child milk.
Make sure your child is drinking plenty of fluids.
Feed your child a "B-R-A-T" diet for 1 or 2 days. It is made
of bananas, rice (cooked white rice, rice cereal, rice cakes),
applesauce, and tea or dry toast (no butter or jelly).
Keep your child's diet bland until diarrhea is better. Plain
pasta, baked chicken, boiled potatoes, cooked vegetables, and
soups are good.
Avoid spicy and fried food.
If diarrhea doesn't get better, limit high-sugar foods like
Kool-Aid and apple juice.
Do not use over-the-counter medications until you have checked
with the doctor.
Most vomiting will stop within about 8-12 hours with the right
care. Some doctors recommend using an oral rehydration solution
(ORS) as described below. Other doctors recommend taking the
Stop formula and breast feedings. Stop all liquids and solid
foods in older children.
Give frequent, small amounts of fluids. Give your child
1-ounce of clear liquids every hour. Have your child take small
Do not use plain water. Special clear liquids called oral
rehydration solutions (ORS) are best.
Some doctors say that children over 2 years old can have
Gatorade, soda, clear soups, tea, Jell-O, and Popsicles. Ask your
Do not give your child diet soda, sugar-free drinks, or
If your child doesn't vomit after 8-12 hours, add solid foods.
For infants, try rice cereal with water or Pedialyte. For
toddlers, try dry cereal, dry crackers, or dry toast.
If your infant doesn't vomit after 12 to 24 hours, start
breastfeeding or begin giving formula. Some doctors recommend
giving half-strength formula for 12 hours, then full-strength
after 12 hours. Ask your doctor.
Add food and liquids slowly as your child is able to keep them
How long does it last?
In most children, fever and vomiting will stop after 2
The diarrhea can last 10 to 12 days.
Can it be prevented?
Good hand washing is important. Wash your hands before eating
and after using the bathroom.
A new rotavirus vaccine may be available soon.
When should I call the doctor? If you have questions or concerns about your child's condition,
call the doctor. If your child is very dehydrated, she needs
Call the doctor if
Your child is under 6 months old and has a temperature above
104 degrees F (or 40 degrees C).
Your child is under 2 years old and has vomiting or
Stomach pain is not better in 2 hours, vomiting is not better
in 12 hours, or diarrhea is not better after 3 days.
Your child's mouth is dry, she is bloated, or she won't take
There is blood in the vomit or diarrhea or bile (yellow-green
liquid) in the vomit.
Your child has pain with urination, a bad headache, neck pain,
or a strange rash.
Your child is unable to take the medicine she needs.
Go to the emergency room if
Your child is very thirsty.
Your child doesn't urinate in 8-12 hours or if your infant
does not urinate in 4-6 hours.
Urine is very dark.
Your child is sleeping a lot or has very little energy.
There are no tears when your child cries.
Rotavirus is a germ that causes severe diarrhea in
Almost all children get it by the time they are 3 years
It is easily passed from one infected person to another.
Good hand washing is important.
It can cause vomiting, fever, watery diarrhea, dehydration
(loss of body water), and stomach pain.
If your child is vomiting, stop all food and liquids. After 30
minutes of not vomiting, begin to add food and liquids slowly as
she is able to keep them down.
Feed your child a bland diet if she has diarrhea.
Vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration. Dehydration can
be treated with an ORS.
Call the doctor if vomiting, diarrhea, or aches and pains do
not get better within reasonable time. Go to the emergency room if
your child is very dehydrated.
Call your doctor if you have any questions about your child's
American Academy of Pediatrics. Report of the Comm. on
Infectious Diseases. 25th Edition. (2000). P. 493-495.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rotavirus. 2001,
August 20. (cited 2002, December 12). URL:
KidsHealth for Parents. Rotavirus. 2001, May. (cited 2002,
December 12). URL:
Merck Research Laboratories. Rotavirus Vaccine Study:
Recruitment Resource Binder. 2002.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Center for Food Safety
& Applied Nutrition. Rotavirus. 1992, January. (cited 2002,
December 12). URL: http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/chap33.html
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