My son Adam (age 2) had Rotavirus this weekend (Sunday 14th Jan).  He was very sick and in the hospital on IV and triple doses of cortef. Please watch out of this condition.  Don't let the doctors tell you to just give more liquids and don't worry. It is very danagerous for kids that don't have CAH and more so for kids with CAH. Give a stress dose and solu-cortef and go to the hospital if your child vomits and has diarrhea. Do not wait. It is more common in the winter. Be careful!!

ROTAVIRUS AND CHILD DIARRHEA

Babies and children can get diarrhea in several ways, but the most common cause is a wheel-shaped virus called the rotavirus.

Rotaviruses are prevalent in Third World countries, where children are severely malnourished. However, rotoviruses also occur in the United States, particularly in inner cities where children also suffer from malnutrition.

Rotaviruses result in the hospitalization of approximately 55,000 children each year in the United States and the death of over 600,000 children annually worldwide. The incubation period for rotavirus disease is approximately two days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

The disease is characterized by vomiting and watery diarrhea for 3-8 days, and often fever and abdominal pain. Repeat infections tend to be less severe than the original infection.

Rotaviruses are predominantly passed from human to human by fecal-oral contact. You can become infected with the virus by drinking contaminated water or food or by coming into contact with contaminated surfaces.

A child can get diarrhea from other causes, such as bacteria or parasites. A rotavirus infection can be determined by an examination of a stool sample. The rotavirus disease has a winter seasonal pattern, with annual epidemics occurring from November to April. The highest rates of illness occur among infants and young children, and most children in the United States are infected by two years of age, according to the CDC. Adults can also be infected, though the disease tends to be mild.