The tummy bug Virus: Is your child at risk?

From the website www.webchats.tv Nearly every child under the age of five will experience the highly contagious stomach bug’, rotavirus gastroenteritis1, and a few of them may end up needing hospital treatment2. Despite this, the majority of parents surveyed had never heard of the virus3. The virus has been estimated to cause up to 14 children to die each year in the UK4. Although the majority of infections are relatively mild5, children can have up to 20 episodes of vomiting and diarrhoea in just 24 hours6. Outbreaks of gastroenteritis will usually cause children to be sent home from nursery or day care. In a survey, parents had taken time off work due to their child contracting gastroenteritis3. January 22nd sees the launch of the first Childhood Gastroenteritis Awareness Week with television personality, Philippa Forrester. The campaign aims to educate parents, nursery teachers and other childcare staff about the virus and to offer advice on how to deal with the distressing symptoms. To receive a free information leaflet please log onto www.rotavirus.org.uk. The Childhood Gastroenteritis Awareness Campaign is sponsored by Sanofi Pasteur MSD 1.Health Protection Agency, available at https /rotavirus/menu.htm (accessed September 2006) 2.Ryan MJ et al. Hospital admissions attributable to rotavirus infection in England and Wales, The Journal of Infectious Diseases,1996;174(Supplement 1):S128 3.Findings of a survey of parents with children under the age of five, Independent …