TOPEKA (KSNT) – Healthcare professionals are urging parents to take action to help keep children safe from an illness that can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that cases of rotavirus, a life-threatening and highly contagious virus, are surging across the country. We checked in with local doctors, who said they’re starting to see it here in northeast Kansas.
Rotavirus is a stomach virus that typically impacts very young children who are under five years old. Symptoms include vomiting, fever and diarrhea. The CDC said symptoms usually start two days after exposure and can last up to eight days.
Local health experts said the best prevention is to wash your hands frequently.
“Ways to keep it from spreading are really washing your hands and washing surfaces,” said pediatric nurse practitioner Taylor Smith. “We see big outbreaks in childcare settings, schools, that kind of thing, because kids aren’t always the best at washing their hands, unfortunately, and then obviously dirty diapers cause that as well.”
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The CDC recommends that infants get vaccinated for rotavirus. Vaccinated children are less likely to get sick from rotavirus, while children who are not vaccinated usually have more severe symptoms.
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