Rotavirus can cause gastrointestinal infections (inflammation of the stomach and intestines). It is most common in very young children.
This infectious disease leads to inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Symptoms of rotavirus disease include fever, nausea, vomiting and severe, watery diarrhoea. Rotavirus infections are common in the Netherlands, especially in young children between 6 months and 2 years old.
What is a rotavirus infection?
A rotavirus infection is caused by an infectious disease that leads to inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Almost every child has a rotavirus infection before the age of five.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of rotavirus disease include fever, nausea, vomiting and watery diarrhoea. After exposure, it takes about 2 days for symptoms to appear. The symptoms last 4 to 6 days. Sometimes a child has to go to hospital to be treated for dehydration symptoms. It is possible for people to contract the disease more than once, but after the first infection they will have a less severe course of illness. It is also possible for a person to be infected with the rotavirus without showing any symptoms.
Rotavirus transmission and infection
The rotavirus is found in the stool (faeces, more commonly referred to as poop) of a person who is infected. The infected person is contagious from the moment they develop symptoms. They remain contagious for about a week.
How to prevent rotavirus infection
Good hygiene helps prevent the disease from spreading. A rotavirus vaccine is available. In September 2022, the state secretary of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) followed the advisory opinion of the Health Council (2021) and decided to start offering rotavirus vaccination to all new-borns in the Netherlands. Rotavirus vaccination is included in the National Immunisation Programme as of 2024. The rotavirus vaccination is not an injection, but an oral vaccine. Read more about the rotavirus vaccination.
How common is rotavirus disease?
About 3,500 children are admitted to hospital due to rotavirus disease every year. Most of these children are between 6 months and 2 years old. Children who are particularly vulnerable have a higher risk of a serious course of illness. This includes children who are born prematurely or have a low birth weight. About 6 or 7 children in this group die every year due to rotavirus disease.
Video about the rotavirus
Video
Textalternatief - RIVM Rotavirus
This animation provides information about rotavirus infections, the related symptoms, and strategies for prevention.
Beeldtekst:
The rotavirus comes into play.
Voice-over:
A rotavirus infection is
caused by an infectious disease.
Beeldtekst:
A child with rotavirus appears, with thickening and reddening (inflammation) of the stomach and intestines beside.
Voice-over:
If you have a rotavirus infection, your
stomach and intestines will be affected.
Beeldtekst:
All symptoms appear sequentially.
Voice-over:
You will suffer fever, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting.
These symptoms usually last 4 to 6 days.
Beeldtekst:
An image of stool appears on the screen.
Voice-over:
Rotavirus spreads through stool
material, also known as poop.
Beeldtekst:
A toilet and a hand with a virus appear.
Voice-over:
When people use the toilet,
they can get the virus on their hands...
Beeldtekst:
The virus moves sideways and lands on the person on the left.
Voice-over:
causing them to become...
Beeldtekst:
The virus moves from the left person to the right person.
Voice-over:
infected or infect someone else.
Beeldtekst:
We see many children with the rotavirus.
Voice-over:
Rotavirus is very common.
Beeldtekst:
The children disappear, leaving only one, with diarrhea appearing next to them.
Voice-over:
Young children aged 6 to 24
months are particularly vulnerable.
Children often develop severe
diarrhoea and can become dehydrated.
Beeldtekst:
A hospital icon appears.
Voice-over:
3,500 children with rotavirus end
up in hospital every year as a result.
Beeldtekst:
Hands washing and the rotavirus with a descending icon appear.
Voice-over:
Washing your hands thoroughly
reduces the risk of rotavirus.
Beeldtekst:
We see the child again, with a vaccination next to it.
voice-over:
Babies aged 6 weeks and up can
get a vaccination against rotavirus.
Beeldtekst:
The syringe is replaced by drops.
Voice-over:
It is an oral vaccine, not an injection.
It is administered by putting
drops in the childs mouth.
Beeldtekst:
Want to know more? Go to rijksvaccinatieprogramma.nl/en/infectieziekten/rotavirus
Voice-over:
Want to know more? Go to rijksvaccinatieprogramma.nl/en/infectieziekten/rotavirus