admincountry, causing high fever and serious dehydration among children under the age of five.
Health experts say the virus affects mostly children during winter and has no direct treatment. Its early symptoms are diarrhoea and vomiting. Director of epidemology and disease control in the Ministry of Health and
Child Welfare, Dr Portia Manangazira, yesterday said the virus had no direct treatment but Government was working hard to introduce a virus that would stop it. She said the virus occurred seasonally.
“You will find out that during the winter season there is an increase in the number of diarrhoeal activities especially on that age group. We are hoping that in a few years to come, we will have a virus to stop that diarrhoea,” she said. Dr Manangazira said for now, hospitals would rely on the re-hydration method as a supportive measure. She, however, would not give statistics of the children affected by the virus countrywide.
Health and Child Welfare Deputy Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora, yesterday said the virus was not a threat to the country’s health delivery system, adding it was common during winter. He said: “During winter, there are a lot of flues linked to that virus but there is nothing much to write home about. It’s common knowledge that this is the trend yearly and there is nothing to worry about.” A visit by The Herald to Parirenyatwa and
Harare Central Hospitals yesterday revealed that children’s wards were full with children suffering mainly from the infection. A nurse at Parirenyatwa who preferred anonymity for professional reasons, said the number of children admitted at the hospital was increasing everyday. The nurse said they had taken samples to the laboratories to figure out if the suspected virus was Rota.
“Its true that children are coming on daily basis with the same symptoms but it’s better for you to see the infection control matron, probably she can give you finer details because samples have been taken to the lab,” she said. The situation was the same at private hospitals such as the Avenues Clinic. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention:
lRotavirus is a virus that causes severe diarrhoea. It can also cause vomiting, fever and dehydration. It is the leading cause of diarrhoea in infants and young children. Almost all children in the US are likely to be infected with rotavirus before their 5th birthday.
lInfections happen most often in the winter and spring. It is very easy for children with the virus to spread it to other children and sometimes to adults. Once a child gets the virus, it takes about two days to become sick. Vomiting and diarrhea may last from three to eight days.
lTreatment is replacing lost body fluids. Having your child drink products with water, sugar and minerals usually helps. Some children need to go to the hospital for IV fluids.
Online Reporter