Children Are Suffering From Diarrhoea: Here’s What You Can Do To Help Protect Your Child

Children are getting sick because of rotavirus - and no, we’re not just saying this to get you worried about another illness. 

The numbers should speak for themselves. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), rotavirus is one of the most common causes for severe diarrhoea in children with an estimate of 527,000 deaths in 2004¹. In Malaysia, 22% to 50% of diarrhoea cases in children are caused by rotavirus and almost all of the children infected are below the age of 5².

So if you have a child below the age of 5, you need to take heed. 

Asking Your Doctor If Your Child Has Rotavirus 

If you notice that your child has these symptoms, they might be infected with rotavirus and you need to ask your doctor about it. 

A child infected with rotavirus may only start showing symptoms after 2 days of catching the virus. It starts off with fever and vomiting, then the diarrhoea starts³.  

These symptoms are just the start of it because there are complications that could arise from the onset of the disease, such as⁴:

• Severe vomiting and diarrhoea
• Dehydration

According to WHO, it is estimated that 25 million hospital visits and more than 2 million hospitalisations are caused by rotavirus which led to severe and dehydrating diarrhoea¹. 

Here are some signs of dehydration that parents should be aware of and should take immediate action^3,5:

• Tiredness/lethargy
• Dry mouth, lips and tongue
• No tears when a child cries
• Decrease in urination

How Parents Can Help Prevent Rotavirus Infection

It is a scary thought to think that our children can be so susceptible to these potentially deadly diseases that are also incredibly contagious². 

So most of us would want to protect our children with preventative measures rather than having to think about what would happen if our children were to actually catch the disease, right?

Of course, we can practise good hygiene habits such as regular disinfection of all surfaces at home, washing hands after changing children's diapers or after going to the toilet and sanitising our children’s hands too. 

But while personal hygiene for ourselves and the children is very important, it may not be enough.

In fact, rotavirus immunisation is another preventive measure⁶ and one that you should approach your doctor to understand more as well. 

So parents, it is worth noting that preventive measures including vaccines are important for your child’s health. 

Do speak with your doctor or paediatrician at your next visit to understand more about these preventive measures.

MY-ROT-00242 Aug/2022

REFERENCES:

1. World Health Organization. Rotavirus. Available From: https://www.who.int/teams/health-product-policy-and-standards/standards-and-specifications/vaccines-quality/rotavirus. Last Accessed 22 August  2022.  
2. PORTAL MyHEALTH. Rotavirus vaccine. Available From: https://www.myhealth.gov.my/en/rotavirus-vaccine/. Last Accessed 21 August 2022.   
3. Mayo Clinic. Rotavirus. Available From: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rotavirus/symptoms-causes/syc-20351300. Last Accessed 19 August 2022.  
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rotavirus. Available From: https://www.cdc.gov/rotavirus/about/symptoms.html. Last Accessed 19 August 2022,  
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rotavirus. Available From: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rota.html. Last Accessed 19 August 2022,
6. Immunise4Life. 5 Additional Recommended Vaccines for Children. Available From: https://immunise4life.my/5-additional-vaccines-for-children/. Last Accessed 19 August 2022.