Rotavirus is a virus (type of germ) that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Your child stayed in the hospital to get fluids through an IV (intravenous or into a vein) line or a nasogastric tube (a thin flexible tube that goes into the nose and down to the stomach). They are now ready to go home.

At home make any diet changes and give your child plenty of liquids such as breast milk, formula, and/or an oral electrolyte solution (such as Pedialyte®, Enfalyte®, or a store brand), as recommended by your health care provider. This will help your child continue to recover from dehydration (not enough water in the body). You can buy the oral electrolyte solution at drugstores or supermarkets without a prescription.

Here's how to take care of your child.

• Continue feeding your child as usual unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise. Your child may want to feed more often, and that's OK.
• Offer plenty of liquids. Babies can continue taking breast milk or formula. Breast milk can help make a rotavirus infection less severe. For kids who are a little older, you can try warm herbal (no caffeine) tea, soup, and watered-down white grape juice.
• If your child doesn't want their usual amount of liquids, try giving smaller amounts more often. You can also give liquids with an oral syringe, a medicine cup, or a kitchen teaspoon. You can slowly go back to your usual feeding schedule as long as your child isn't vomiting.
• Your healthcare provider may want you to give your child an oral electrolyte solution in addition to their regular feeding. Use a bottle, small cup, spoon, or syringe to give as directed by your healthcare provider.
• If your child eats solid foods, continue to offer their regular foods. As long as they’re drinking, it's OK if they don’t want solid foods at first.

If your child starts vomiting, hold off on feeding them and give an oral electrolyte solution:

1. Start giving the oral electrolyte solution right away. Even if your child just vomited, you should still start the oral electrolyte solution.
2. Give your child 1–2 teaspoons (5–10 ml) of the oral electrolyte solution every few minutes. You can use an oral syringe, a medicine cup, or a kitchen spoon.
3. After one hour, if your child is not vomiting, increase the amount a little bit and give 3–4 teaspoons (15–20 ml).
4. Continue to give this amount every few minutes for the next hour or two.
5. If your child vomits again, go back to step #1 and start this process over.

Call your health care provider about what to do next. Your baby may need to be checked again to make sure they are OK.

Other important information:

• You will know your child is getting enough liquids if:
  • They have a wet diaper or pee every 4–6 hours.
  • Their mouth is moist.
  • They have tears when they cry.
• Give any medicines as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
• Don't give any medicines for vomiting or diarrhea without checking with your healthcare provider.
• If your child is uncomfortable from fever, and your healthcare provider says it's OK, you can give acetaminophen (Tylenol® or a store brand) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand). Follow the package directions for how much to give and how often. Don't give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months old.
• Don't give your child aspirin. It can cause Reye syndrome, a rare but serious illness.
• Follow your healthcare provider's recommendations for any diet changes.
• Do NOT give your child:
  • Plain water, sports drinks, soda, or full-strength (undiluted) juice
  • Medicines for nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting, unless told to by your healthcare provider
  • Diluted (watered-down) formula
• Do not give oral electrolyte solution as your baby’s only liquids for more than 24 hours.
• Follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations for when you can send your child back to childcare. This is usually when your child:
  • Has no more than two “extra” stools, compared to a usual day
  • Isn’t having poop accidents (if toilet trained)
  • Doesn’t have poop so loose that it’s leaking out of the diaper
  • Hasn’t had a fever for at least 24 hours

Your child:

• Seems to be getting sicker
• Starts vomiting again
• Still has frequent loose stools a week after getting sick
• Has black poop or poop with streaks of blood or mucus in it
• Has been on the oral electrolyte solution for 24 hours and is still not taking other liquids
• Isn't back to their regular diet within about five days of getting sick
• Is over 3 months old and has a fever

If your baby is 3 months or younger and has a rectal (taken in the bottom) temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, take your child to the ER.

Your child:

• Isn't drinking at all or has signs of dehydration such as a dry or sticky mouth, sunken eyes, less pee or darker pee than usual, little or no tears when crying, or unusual sleepiness
• Is 3 months or younger and has a rectal (taken in the bottom) temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
• Is vomiting again and again; has vomit that's bright green, red, or brown; or has forceful vomiting
• Is crying a lot and can't be calmed down
• Seems to have belly pain or other pain

You know your child best. If they have symptoms that worry you or seem very sick, call your healthcare provider or take your child to the ER.

How can we prevent the spread of rotavirus? Rotavirus spreads easily through touching infected poop. It can also spread through food if someone who is preparing food didn’t wash their hands. To prevent the spread of rotavirus:

• Don’t change diapers near food.
• Wash hands well and often with soap and water and scrub for at least 20 seconds. This is especially important after changing diapers and having a bowel movement (pooping). If soap and water are not available, you can use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol (but washing with soap and water kills rotavirus better).
• Clean surfaces (especially areas where diapers are changed) often with soap and water and then wipe with a bleach solution. 
• Keep any clothes that got poop on them separate and wash separately in hot water.
• Following your healthcare provider’s recommendations for sending your child back to childcare. 

Can rotavirus be prevented? There is a vaccine that is given by mouth that works well to prevent rotavirus. It needs to be given in the first few months of life. Check with your healthcare provider to see if your child can get the vaccine. 

Does my child need antibiotics? No. Rotavirus is caused by a virus so antibiotics won’t help (they work against bacteria, a different type of germ).