Staying Healthy in Child Care - National Health and Medical ...

Rotavirus
Description
Rotavirus is a form of gastroenteritis caused by a virus. The people most at risk for
rotavirus infection are young children especially those under 2 years old 62 . Almost all
people worldwide will have a rotavirus infection before they are 5 years old. In
Australia 20-40% of all admissions of young children to hospital with diarrhoea are
due to rotavirus infections. Rotavirus infections occur mostly in late autumn and early
winter 63 .
Symptoms include vomiting, fever and watery diarrhoea. Onset is usually sudden, and
the illness mainly affects infants and young children up to 3 years of age.
Rotaviruses are in the faeces of a person while they have diarrhoea and for several
weeks after the diarrhoea stops (sometimes up to 2 months or longer). Rotavirus
infections are spread when:
• Infected people do not wash their hands effectively after going to the toilet.
Contaminated hands can then spread the virus to other people and surfaces that
may be touched by others.
• Hands become contaminated while changing the nappy of an infected infant.
Incubation period
Usually about 48 hours, but may range from 24 – 72 hours 64 .
Infectious period
The virus may be excreted in the faeces for 1–2 days before the illness and up to eight
days after the illness.
Exclusion period
Exclude until diarrhoea has stopped for at least 24 hours.
Responsibilities of child care providers/staff
Report the infection to the director.
Contact your local health authority if several children in one group are ill. Public
health workers may be able to help identify how the infectious agent has spread
through the centre and prevent further infection.
Responsibilities of parents
Observe the exclusion period.
Controlling the spread of infection
Exclude a person with infectious diarrhoea and vomiting from the centre until
vomiting and diarrhoea has stopped for at least 24 hours.
Make sure that effective hand washing and cleaning procedures are being followed in
the centre and at home.
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Draft for Public Consultation