VietNamNet Bridge – Pediatricians have warned parents to improve their children's hygiene to prevent Rotavirus during the winter – spring season.

Schoolchildren are instructed on washing their hands to prevent diarrhoea at HCM City's Nguyen Binh Khiem Primary School. Doctors have warned parents about a diarrhoea outbreak and respiratory infections among children in the city. (Photo: VNS)
"Along with respiration diseases, acute diarrhea caused by Rotavirus infection is the main cause of increased hospitalisations among children in recent days," said Deputy Director of the National Pediatrics Hospital (NPH) Le Thanh Hai.

According to Hai, about 60 per cent of hospitalised children in the hospital's Digestive Department suffered from Rotavirus.

Health experts said the virus was the most common cause of severe diarrhoea among infants and young children and that the majority of the world's children had been infected with Rotavirus at least once, especially between the ages of 3 and 24 months.

Doctor Bui Thi Huong, director of the NPH's Digestive Department, said children with the virus usually experienced low-grade fever, vomiting and watery diarrhea multiple times a day. They also often suffered from exhaustion and weight loss but the most dangerous symptom was dehydration.

The doctor said that by staying hydrated and getting the right nutrients, patients could recover within 10 to 14 days.

Aside from proper hygiene, children under 6 months old can get an oral vaccine to prevent the virus.

"Parents should take their children to the nearest medical unit when they are feverish, vomiting or experiencing non-stop watery diarrhea. Doctors have to test whether the patient is infected with Rotavirus or not," said Huong.

Doctors also asked parents not to use antibiotics, anti-vomiting drugs or other traditional remedies like guava juice to treat symptoms as that could make the situation worse.


VietNamNet/Viet Nam News