Rotavirus
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Fact sheet - Health conditions directory
Rotaviruses are a group of viruses that can cause severe viral gastroenteritis in infants and young children. Before vaccines became available, rotavirus caused about half of all hospitalised cases of gastroenteritis in children less than five years of age. It is estimated that in Australia, about 4% of children were admitted to hospital with rotavirus gastroenteritis in their first 5 years of life.
The virus is highly contagious and can cause outbreaks among children in childcare. By 5 years of age, almost every child will have been infected with rotavirus.
In temperate climates, rotavirus diarrhoea occurs in seasonal peaks during cooler months. In tropical climates, cases occur throughout the year.
Public health management guidelines
Notification
Pathology laboratories
Notification resources
- List of all Pathological, clinical and provisional diagnosis notifiable conditions
- List of Public Health Unit contacts
- Notifiable conditions report form for Queensland doctors/clinicians (PHA S70) or person in charge of a Hospital (PHA S71) (PDF, 77kB) - if faxing notification, follow up by phone.
