AMERICA/COSTA RICA - Unexpected increase of cases of rotavirus in children: a thousand a week

Monday, 2 March 2015

San Jose (Agenzia Fides) - The most common cause of severe diarrhea in children is due to infection known as rotavirus. Each year, health authorities in Costa Rica are ready to face the peak of the disease starting from the month of March. This year, however, perhaps because of climate change, over a thousand cases had already been recorded at the National Pediatric Hospital in the last weeks of February. A statement from the hospital director, sent to Agenzia Fides, says that fortunately the cases are not serious, even if the sick hospitalized so far are very young children. Many students are also affected by the rotavirus and are cared for at home by family members through proper hydration. In fact, due to dehydration, blood flow is compromised and, for the first days young children vomit, and then suffer from diarrhea which can last up to over a week, and this is why it is necessary for them to be hospitalized. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 02/03/2015)


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