Key facts

Rotavirus is a common infection that causes diarrhoea and vomiting, especially in babies and young children

The rotavirus vaccine is the best way to protect against rotavirus disease

Rotavirus is an RNA virus that is shed in the faeces of infected people

Symptoms of rotavirus include watery diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, and stomach pain

Overview

Rotavirus is a highly contagious virus that commonly causes severe watery diarrhoea and vomiting, particularly in infants and young children. Although most children recover within a few days, some may experience severe dehydration requiring hospital treatment. In very rare cases, rotavirus can be life-threatening. Globally, rotaviruses are the leading cause of severe diarrhoea in young children although the number of deaths has dropped since a vaccine became available.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of rotavirus typically begin up to three days after exposure and usually clear up within a week.…