Rotavirus Infections
Fact Sheet PDF
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Rotavirus is one
of the most common causes of severe diarrhea
among children, resulting in the hospitalization of approximately 55,000
children each year in the United States, and the death of over 600,000
children annually worldwide.
The highest rates of illness occur among infants and
young children between 4-24 months of age. Virtually all children in
the United States are infected by the age of three.
Re-infections in older children and adults is unlikely
to cause symptoms. Illness is most likely to occur during the
cooler months, usually between autumn and spring in the United States.
Rotavirus occurs in both animals and humans; however,
transmission between animals and humans has not been documented.
Rotaviruses can often cause outbreaks in child care
settings, but it is rarely associated with contaminated food or water.
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