|.Accessibility|.

Rotavirus

What is Rotavirus?

Rotavirus is the name of a virus which can cause the following:

Severe vomiting and diarrhoea.
Stomach cramps.
Occasionally fever accompanied by convulsions.

In rare circumstances a child may need to be admitted to hospital.

The virus lives in the bowel and spreads via the diarrhoea and vomit it causes, either directly from hand to mouth or indirectly from droplets in the air, which then enter the nose and mouth.

The virus can still be found in the faeces for a few days after the diarrhoea has finished.

Who does it affect?

Rotavirus occurs mainly in children between the ages of 6 months and 2 years. It can also affect adults. It often causes problems in the winter months.

What is the treatment?

There is no treatment for the Rotavirus at present. The illness runs its own course, generally taking between 4-6 days

In order to prevent your child dehydrating give them frequent sips of water or unsweetened fruit juice, even if they are vomiting.

If your baby or child is showing signs of dehydration, or if diarrhoea and sickness is severe, see your GP urgently or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

How do you prevent it?

Hand washing is the most important method of preventing spread of Rotavirus.

How should you wash your hands?

The following method should be used for washing your hands.

Hand and wrist jewellery should be removed prior to hand washing.
Wet hands under running warm water.
Apply liquid soap.
Without applying more water rub all parts of the hands vigorously for 10-15 seconds until you have a soapy lather.
Rub hands palm to palm.

Palm to palm, fingers interlaced.
Right palm over back of left hand and left palm over back of right hand.
Backs of fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlocked.
Rotational rubbing of right thumb clasped in left palm and vice versa.
Rub back and forwards with clasped fingers of right hand in left palm and vice versa.
Rinse hands together under warm running water
Dry hands thoroughly with a disposable paper hand towel and dispose in a foot operated bin

When should you wash your hands?

After:

Going to the toilet.
Assisting your child with toileting.
Changing nappies.
Handling soiled linen and clothing.
Cleaning up diarrhoea or vomit.
Assisting your child to wash his/her hands after toileting.

Before:

Preparing or serving foods and drinks.
Eating
Smoking

Teach your child to always wash their hands properly after using the toilet/potty with soap and warm water.

How to prevent the spread of Rotavirus at home?

Diarrhoea or vomit soiled linen, towels and clothing should be laundered on as hot a wash as possible (at least 60°C). Do not overfill your washing machine or it will not clean them properly. Keep soiled washing separate from the rest of the washing.

Clean toilet seats, flush handles, door handles and taps frequently with hot soapy water. Then disinfect the area using bleach (following manufacturers’ instructions).

Clean toilets and potties with bleach after use.

How to prevent the spread of Rotavirus at child care facilities?

Maintaining a high standard of hygiene is the most important means of controlling the spread of Rotavirus within a child care facility. Thorough hand washing and drying is an important means of preventing spread.

However, from time to time extra precautions may become necessary.

Special precautions are necessary when cleaning up vomit and faeces. You should:

Keep children away from the soiled area.
Use disposable gloves or rubber gloves and disposable towels/paper to clean the area.
Dispose of soiled materials in a suitable manner.
Launder soiled clothing, towels etc on a hot a wash as possible (at least 60°C)
Disinfect the area with a suitable disinfectant for the surface affected.
Thoroughly wash and dry hands.

If you become aware that a child is ill and may be infectious, it will be necessary to ask parents to keep the child at home and initiate special disinfection regimes within the premises. Also any member of staff known or suspected of suffering from Rotavirus must be excluded from work whilst they are infectious.

A clear written policy to advise both parents and staff of the action to be taken in respect of infectious diseases, including viral infections, should be provided by managers of child care facilities.

If you are concerned that other children may be at risk of infection, you should seek advice from your local Environmental Health Department, or the Health Protection Agency.