NAPNAP Alerts Parents to Potential Complications of Rotavirus Infection

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 04 Mar 2005 - 15:00 PDT

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Unpredictable disease accounts for an estimated 500,000 visits to primary care offices every year -

The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) wants parents to know that rotavirus, the most common cause of severe diarrhea, affects nearly all children by the age of five, and can lead to serious health consequences, including dehydration. NAPNAP offers advice for parents on how to recognize this common childhood infection.

"Rotavirus can lead to serious complications, and since there is no way to predict whether or not a child will have a mild or severe case, we want to make sure parents take this disease seriously," said Adele Young, PhD, RN, PNP, Fellow of NAPNAP and Assistant Professor of Nursing, George Mason University.

Strain and Season Make Impact of Rotavirus Hard to Predict

Diarrhea is common among infants and toddlers, however; many parents may not realize that severe diarrhea, especially in the winter and spring, could be caused by rotavirus. Although symptoms of rotavirus vary, children may experience fever, upset stomach and vomiting, in conjunction with watery diarrhea. Children with rotavirus can have numerous episodes of diarrhea per day, which, when combined with frequent vomiting, can lead to dehydration. These symptoms typically last anywhere from three to nine days. While some children do not show any symptoms, an estimated 50,000 children in the United States are hospitalized each year due to rotavirus infection.

The diarrhea and vomiting caused by rotavirus can lead to severe dehydration, which in rare cases can lead to death. In addition to the approximately 50,000 hospitalizations associated with rotavirus, there are 500,000 visits to primary care offices and 20-40 deaths each year in the United States. It is also responsible for up to $1 billion in annual direct and indirect health care costs among children younger than five years of age.

There are many different rotavirus strains. The prevalence of these strains varies by geography and changes from season to season. During the first few years of life, a child typically has several episodes of rotavirus. Children tend to gradually develop immunity against the disease after several infections.

Children can get rotavirus at any time of the year, but in moderate climates like the United States, infections peak in the winter and spring. Typically, cases begin in the Southwest region of the United States in November and spread across the country toward the East and Southeast, where cases continue to appear into April and May.

NAPNAP offers parents the following suggestions from nurse practitioners to help prepare for the rotavirus season:

* know the signs of dehydration: irritability, loss of appetite and dry mouth;

* talk to your nurse practitioner or doctor about rotavirus symptoms; and

* know when cases of rotavirus tend to peak in your area.

For more information about rotavirus, please visit http://www.napnap.org.

NAPNAP is the professional association that advocates for children and Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. NAPNAP has nearly 7,000 members and 49 chapters in 31 states. For more information about NAPNAP, please contact the national office at 856/857-9700.

This education campaign was made possible with support from Merck & Co., Inc.

Contact: Melissa Gonzalez,
212/445-8226 or
Joe Casey
856/857-9700
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
http://www.napnap.org

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