 News
23rd January 2007
Childhood gastroenteritis awareness week
This week sees the launch of the first Childhood Gastroenteritis Awareness
Week.
Television personality Philippa Forrester is spearheading
the campaign which aims to get to the bottom of rotavirus, a highly contagious
and potentially debilitating infection, which affects nearly every child
before their fifth birthday.
The campaign aims to greatly increase awareness of the infection,
to educate parents, nursery teachers and other child care staff about
the virus and to offer advice on how to combat the distressing symptoms.
It has been estimated that estimated that 17,810 children
in England and Wales were hospitalised in one year due to rotavirus gastroenteritis,
an infection which causes the death of up to 14 children under five every
year in the UK.
However, despite this, 84 per cent of parents have never
heard of rotavirus, and the campaing wants to highlight how common the
infection is.
Outbreaks of rotavirus usually result in hildren being sent
home from nursery or day care and last year 41 per cent of parents had
to take time off work to care for a child with the infection which can
cause more than 20 episodes of vomiting and diarrhoea in just 24 hours
Phillipa says, “Both my older children have suffered from
gastroenteritis and I have first hand experience of how distressing it
was for them and how much it impacted on our family’s life.”
Dr Sarah Jarvis, practicing GP from Shepherd’s Bush, London,
said, “Rotavirus gastroenteritis is extremely common, so it’s very important
that parents are made aware of this potentially serious condition so they
can identify the symptoms and seek appropriate help.”
Commenting on the campaign Dr Keith Lindley, Institute of
Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital, said, “Rotavirus gastroenteritis
can cause significant distress and suffering to both the child and their
parents.
"Treating rotavirus has been estimated to cost the
NHS and society approximately £29million and £68 million respectively
each year.
"I welcome this campaign which I hope will ensure parents
have a better understanding of the virus.”
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