Parents' Stories
22-month-old with rotavirus
Angela's daughter Jackie was 22 months old when she came down with rotavirus. Jackie woke up one morning with vomiting and diarrhea that lasted about 6 days. Jackie's diarrhea and vomiting were so severe that within the first 2 days she had diarrhea more than 10 times and was unable to keep anything in her stomach.
By the end of the second day, Jackie had lost so much body fluid that her doctor said that she should be taken to the emergency room for treatment with intravenous (IV) fluids. She was diagnosed with rotavirus at the hospital. Jackie improved slightly after her visit to the ER, but by the next evening she began to get worse with increasing diarrhea. By the fourth morning Jackie woke up and was so sick that her mother described her as "almost lifeless." It was the most frightening thing Angela had ever experienced.
The second ER experience was once again painful for Angela and Jackie. Jackie had lost so much body fluid that it took over an hour for the nurse to start the IV. By the sixth day, Jackie started to regain her strength, but it took her months to regain the weight she lost (more than 10% of her body weight) and to recover from rotavirus. Although her efforts to provide Jackie fluids helped, Angela still felt very frustrated that there was nothing else she could do for her child throughout the whole experience.
A case of rotavirus can vary among infants and children. Many cases are mild, while others are severe. This story may not be representative or characteristic
of every child's experience. Talk with your doctor if you have any questions about rotavirus.
