Help please, DS diagnosed with Rotavirus

Mt DS has had 6 bouts of gastro in the last 6 months. Fed up with doctors not listening to me, and saying it will go away, I insisted on a stool sample. He has not had a formed stool since the first lot of gastro months ago.
Anyway I got a call from the doctors saying they want to see DS again as his sample has come back saying he has Rotovirus.

Of course I freak out thinking the worse, and I can't get back in to the GP till Friday.

What are the long term effects of this illness, and is there any risk to my unborn bub?

TIA

Hi megiemoppit

There shouldn't be any lasting effects from rotavirus itself. It's quite a common and very contagious gastro bug.

That's a lot of gatro though, you poor thing. Can you work out where he was exposed to it?

Hope it resolves soon for you.

Rotavirus is just one of the virusus that cause diahorrea - it is fairly contageous through contact with the poo and possibly the saliva. As far as I can remember, it can stay in the system for up to 6 weeks or so and remain contageous during that time.

I doubt it is any danger to the unborn bub, and you should be fine too, it is normally a childhood illness passed on through children in close contact (like childcare or kindy), just be extra vidulant with your hand washing and disinfecting and I think you'll be fine.

No advice, but :hug: hugs Meg. Is it possible he's got it from the actual vaccinations? Can't remember when the rotavirus one is, so I could be way out. I'm so glad you've got a diagnosis, and can maybe do something about it now.

Yeah DS got that as well when he was smaller and I was still pregnant. Just a yucky yucky thing for them to go through, but DS wasn't too concerned - it was more poor me for having to change those nappies... :sick:

No damage done to my bub - I got a bout of gastro from him as well (one of many!) but Miss M is fine.

DD contracted Rotavirus when she was 16 months and was hospitalised due to her severe dehydriation for 2 weeks. Rotavirus is extremely contagious but has no lasting effects, the problems are the same as gastro.

Hi there,

Rotavirus should pose no risk to your unborn child.

Rotavirus is most dangerous before the age of six months, so your DS is just approaching that age now. If he has had six prior bouts of gastro, then he will probably weather this one okay as well. It is uncommon for rotavirus to strike more than once; it may be that this particular bout of gastro happens to be from rotavirus and that ther previous bouts might have had other causes. However, the other thing to keep in mind, as one of the other posters mentioned, is his immunisations; the rotavirus vaccine shouldn't cause rotavirus itself, unless the person who is receieving it has some problem with their immune system - this may be worth discussing with your doctor.

The main problem with rotavirus is dehydration, but as I said, your DS is reaching the age where hopefully that won't be a problem. You should offer plenty of fluids, as much as he can drink. If he is on formula and he is vomiting or you notice his diarrhoea gets worse after a feed, than you can consider making his feeds half-strength or switching to a lactose-free formula for a short period of time until he recovers. The best thing for rotavirus is breast milk, so if you are breastfeeding then make sure you continue.

If you notice that he is having less wet nappies than normal, or is becoming particularly tired or listless, or is having high fevers, then you should take him to your GP to be examined if you can get in to see them promptly, or otherwise to your local hospital.

Good luck with everything; hope that your little one starts getting better soon.