Rotavirus gastroenteritis: impact on young children, their families and the health care system

Rotavirus gastroenteritis and its impact on the Australian healthcare system and on young children and their families are discussed based on a cross-sectional descriptive survey involving 280 children under three years of age presenting with acute diarrhea at an emergency department of a large-city children's hospital. Findings indicate rotavirus gastroenteritis has significant economic impact on young children, their families and the healthcare system and routine infant vaccination would potentially be cost-effective.