Rotavirus infection history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [2]

Rotavirus clinical manifestations usually start to develop two days after the infection. It is more severe in the children more than the adults. Its severity depends on whether it is the first infection or recurrent one. The first infection is more severe. It may be asymptomatic or causes watery diarrhea and in very severe cases it may cause severe dehydration. The children infected by the rotavirus present with high grade fever as well as vomiting.^[1][2]

Rotavirus infection can be asymptomatic in mild cases and in the neonates. In neonates it is mostly asymptomatic due to the maternal antibodies.^[3] It can also cause watery diarrhea and vomiting which may results in severe dehydration.^[4]

• Watery diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Fever

In severe cases the following may develop:

• Dehydration and its symptoms include the following:^[1]
  • Decrease in urination
  • Dry mouth and throat
  • Feeling dizzy when standing up
  • In the dehydrated children, the child cries with few or no tears and be unusually sleepy or fussy
• Seizures as the rotavirus can affect the central nervous system.