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Rotavirus

What You Should Know

By Julia Rosien

Diarrhea affects the body's ability to process and absorb necessary water, salts (electrolytes) and nutrition, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). When a child loses more body fluids and salts than he takes in, he becomes dehydrated.

"Rotavirus can cause significant dehydration, and can be especially dangerous for children less than 2 years old," says Dr. Fay. The younger the child, the more quickly mild dehydration progresses to a dangerous, even life-threatening, level. A young child won't ask for something to drink or eat after a bout of vomiting or diarrhea. She needs to be offered drinks -- often. Signs of dehydration include a decrease in urination, sunken eyes, no tears when crying, unusual drowsiness or fussiness, shriveled skin with no tone and dry, sticky mouth.

The CDC recommends using a rehydration solution such as Ceralyte, Pedialyte or Oralyte rather than sports drinks that do not replace fluid losses correctly. These solutions can be purchased in nearly all drug and grocery stores. Parents of young children should keep two bottles or packages on hand, says the CDC. If your child refuses to drink these, offer Gatorade or its equivalent.

Marla Milling believes her use of Pedialyte kept her son, Ben, out of the hospital when he became ill with rotavirus. "We offere him drinks constantly and found little sips every few minutes helped keep dehydration at bay," she says. Ben, like the vast majority of children with rotavirus, recovered without hospitalization.

Want to see more?

• Tell us at the Play Date Issues Discussion Board.
• What foods can cause a child to be constipated?
• When a child has diarrhea, are there any foods you should not give them?
• Foodborne Illness: What You Should Know

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