Severe Rotavirus Hits GA Infants Hardest

Rotavirus is a stomach virus that can cause severe watery diarrhea and vomiting in babies, and Georgia health officials are warning that the youngest children face the highest risk. (cdc.gov) The virus usually starts about two days after exposure, and symptoms can last three to eight days. The biggest danger is dehydration, with warning signs that include fewer wet diapers, dry mouth, few or no tears, unusual sleepiness, and fussiness. (cdc.gov) Rotavirus spreads easily when tiny amounts of stool get onto hands, toys, surfaces, food, or water and then into a child’s mouth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says infants and young children are the group most likely to get severe disease. (cdc.gov) That risk is highest in infants and toddlers because they lose body fluids faster and can go from vomiting and diarrhea to hospital-level dehydration quickly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says rotavirus can also cause electrolyte imbalance and metabolic acidosis, a dangerous buildup of acid in the body. (cdc.gov) Rotavirus used to be the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in young children in the United States before vaccines became routine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says disease rates dropped significantly after rotavirus vaccine was introduced in 2006, but outbreaks still happen. (cdc.gov; cdc.gov) The main protection is vaccination in the first months of life, not later in childhood. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says babies should get the first dose before 15 weeks of age and finish all doses before 8 months old. (cdc.gov) Two rotavirus vaccines are approved in the United States, and infants get either a two-dose or three-dose series depending on the brand. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says both vaccines are safe and effective. (cdc.gov) Georgia’s Department of Public Health says its immunization program and Vaccines for Children program are aimed at raising vaccination levels, especially for infants and young children. Families can get help through health care providers, local health departments, and the state immunization program. (dph.georgia.gov; dph.georgia.gov) Parents and child-care centers can also cut spread with handwashing, careful diaper changing, and cleaning shared surfaces and toys after illness. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says vaccination is the best way to protect babies from the severe diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration rotavirus can cause. (cdc.gov; cdc.gov) For Georgia families, the practical timeline is short: rotavirus vaccine starts at 2 months, the next dose comes at 4 months, and some babies need a third dose. Once a child is older than 8 months, the window for finishing the series has closed. (cdc.gov; cdc.gov)