The Art of War Against Rotavirus

Ignorance is never an excuse—especially when it comes to Rotavirus infection.

Gone are the days when parents dismiss diarrhea as mere “suka’t tae,” as health advocate group ROTAPhil gives the real deal on this potentially fatal disease in a handbook entitled The Rotavirus Disease: What Parents Need to Know.

The handbook unveils important facts about Rotavirus that concerned parents need to know in combating the number one cause of death due to diarrhea among children around the world.  It discusses symptoms of Rotavirus infection such as diarrhea, fever and vomiting—all of which can happen in children, especially aged five and below, from across the socio-economic spectrum.  Because of its non-discriminating nature, Rotavirus has been dubbed by health experts as a “democratic disease,” causing more than 600, 000 deaths yearly among children from both developed and developing countries.

“One of the purposes of the handbook is to make parents aware that Rotavirus may be present in one’s hands or virtually any surface and can strike their unprotected child at any place, and any time,” says Dra. Ma. Lourdes G. Genuino, Assistant Secretary of the Philippine Society of Pediatric Gastroentology and Nutrition.

Dra. Lulu Bravo, Vice-Chancellor for Research at the University of the Philippines Manila and Executive Director of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, furthers that the handbook was especially developed by health experts from ROTAPhil, in partnership with global pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, to guide parents on how to deal with children infected with Rotavirus and how to take proactive steps such as vaccination in order to protect their children from possible infection.  “Through ‘The Rotavirus Disease: What Parents Need to Know,’ we hope to advocate action leading to a reduction and gradual elimination of the rotavirus disease,” Bravo explains.

Indeed, in the world of diarrhea, the need for prevention can never be overemphasized.  As front liners in championing children’s health, parents should arm themselves with the most powerful ammunitions against this enemy.  In the battle against Rotavirus, there can’t be anything more potent than getting to know your enemy and attacking it where it is weakest—through vaccination.

Rotavirus infection is the leading cause of death due to diarrhea among young children worldwide.  Be one of the proponents in protecting the Filipino children against this fatal disease. If you want to request for a free copy of The Rotavirus Disease: What Parents Need to Know handbook, you may email us at rotaphil@gmail.com