Rotavirus Question?

Did anyone's child have the Rotavirus?

My dd is going to be 4 months next week. We are invited to her cousins birthday party this weekend. My dh sister just told me her 9 month old has the Rotavirus. I'm a little concerned, I know it is highly contagious. I don't want to seem overly anxious but I also am concerned.

How concerned do you think I should be?

Message edited 4/5/2007 6:02:41 PM.

Re: Rotavirus Question?

i would not go, that is highly contagious and dangerous, especially for a 4 month old.i just found this for you:

Rotavirus most often infects infants and young children, and in children ages 3 months to 2 years, is one of the most common causes of diarrhea. In the United States, it leads to outbreaks of diarrhea during the winter and spring months. It is particularly a problem in child-care centers and children's hospitals. Almost all children have had a rotavirus infection by the time they are 5 years old. Severe infection, rotavirus gastroenteritis, is the leading cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhea in infants and young children.

Rotavirus infections are responsible for approximately 3 million cases of diarrhea and 55,000 hospitalizations for diarrhea and dehydration in children under 5 years old each year in the United States. Although these infections cause relatively few deaths in the United States, diarrhea caused by rotavirus results in more than half a million deaths worldwide every year. This is especially true in developing countries, where nutrition and health care are not optimal.


Signs and Symptoms
Children with a rotavirus infection have fever, nausea, and vomiting, which are often followed by abdominal cramps and frequent, watery diarrhea. Children who are infected may also have a cough and runny nose. As with all viruses, though, some rotavirus infections cause few or no symptoms, especially in adults.

Sometimes the diarrhea that accompanies a rotavirus infection is so severe that it can quickly lead to dehydration. Signs of dehydration include: thirst, irritability, restlessness, lethargy, sunken eyes, a dry mouth and tongue, dry skin, fewer trips to the bathroom to urinate, and (in infants) a dry diaper for several hours.

Contagiousness
Rotavirus infection is very contagious. The virus passes in the stool of infected persons before and after they have symptoms of the illness. Children can become infected if they put their fingers in their mouths after touching something that has been contaminated by the stool of an infected person. Usually this happens when children forget to wash their hands often enough, especially before eating and after using the toilet. People who care for children, including health-care and child-care workers, can also spread the virus, especially if they do not wash their hands after changing diapers.

Re: Rotavirus Question?

NO do not go!! The previous post is right. DS got it from daycare and had diarrhea for 4 days. 2 weeks later DH got it and I just got over it!! Highly contagious.

Re: Rotavirus Question?

Don't go!! It is so contagious and my poor son was miserable! He had to go to the ER for an IV. He wouldn't eat or drink anything. It was the nastiest, smelliest poop I have even seen!

Re: Rotavirus Question?

Don't go! DD has had it TWICE, and both times she was hospitalized for several days-once at 10 weeks, and once 3 weeks ago at just 2. It is HIGHLY contagious and awful to deal with!

Re: Rotavirus Question?

Thank you for all the advice! If it's that contagious I definitely don't want to bring her around him. I don't know how I can get out of it. She is having about 50 people and they are looking forward to seeing dd. I know my dh family, they will thinking I am overreacting. I don't want them to be dissappointed yet I would hate to see her catch it. My dh said we will have to really think this one over. I keep thinking of how contagious it is...if she was older I would feel so much better about bringing her!!

Re: Rotavirus Question?

My friend's 2 kids have this right now and she said its a nightmare. Endless vomitting and diarrhea, her kids are 1 and 3 and she had to go to the ER with them. Definitely stay home!

Re: Rotavirus Question?

Re: Rotavirus Question?

I completely agree! I feel so much pressure from my dh family. I know they will just turn it around like I am the over protective mom. It doesn't leave me feeling very good.

Message edited 4/7/2007 7:11:50 PM.

Re: Rotavirus Question?

I wouldn't bring my DDs around people with the common cold nevermind the rotavirus!!! Definitely don't go!

Re: Rotavirus Question?

I wouldn't go either, no way, no how. No matter who gets mad about it. She should totally understand since her child is sick with it now!!!

Re: Rotavirus Question?

My son had this in february and was hospitalized. He was on contact isolation, meaning my husband and I had to wear gowns and remove them before we left the room and wash our hands continuously. I was told it was fecal-oral though, so it can still spread if the person changing the diapers doesn't do good handwashing, or the baby touches itself while changing and then touches toys or the changing table, etc. It was an awful experience...and it can come back again...ds got it on a smaller scale a month later...

Re: Rotavirus Question?

Bumping for Maca...

Re: Rotavirus Question?

I wouldn't go...

Cassidy had this last week. It was horrible, and it lasts for a few days. It is, as theo thers have said, highly contagious!!!

Re: Rotavirus Question?

If her kid has the Rotavirus, she should be cancelling the party.

I wouldn't go if I were you.

Re: Rotavirus Question?

Agreed w/ whomever said they should cancel the party- Rotavirus is no joke. i can't imagine your dh's family would want your DD exposed to such an awful virus. Surely, they'd understand?

Re: Rotavirus Question?

Re: Rotavirus Question?

DO NOT GO******

HIGHLY CONTAGiOUS AND DANGerous.
My niece got it at 3 months old and it twisted her intestine and she had emergency surgery on Easter two years ago..It is not worth it...