Don’t think of rotavirus gastroenteritis as just another stomach “bug” or “flu” your child might pick up. It is the most important cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhea in infants and young children below the age of 5, with children aged 6-36 months being at greatest risk for severe cases requiring hospitalization.^3,4

Dehydration is a serious complication of rotavirus that can lead to hospitalization in some cases. If it is not adequately managed, it can also lead to hypovolemia (a disorder in which the volume of circulating blood decreases) and circulatory collapse and, in rare cases, could be life-threatening.^12,15

These potentially serious complications make it important for you to know how to spot the signs and symptoms of rotavirus gastroenteritis.

ROTAVIRUS. THINGS TO CONSIDER.

In Canada each year among children younger than 5 years of age, rotavirus gastroenteritis is estimated to cause an average of:¹

• 17,000 emergency room visits
• 41,000 physician visits
• 5,500 hospitalizations

Call your healthcare professional immediately if your child shows signs of a rotavirus infection.