BACKGROUND: Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe @entity294 in young @entity1 and causes substantial morbidity and mortality. Although the clinical aspects have been well described, little information is available regarding the emotional, social, and economic impact of @entity1902 on the family of a sick @entity1 . The objectives of this study were to: 1) assess the family impact of @entity1902 through qualitative interviews with parents; 2) compare the clinical severity of rotavirus-positive and negative @entity1902 ; 3) test a questionnaire asking parents to rank the importance of various factors associated with a case of @entity1902 . METHODS: The study enrolled parents and @entity1 (2-36 months of age) brought to one of the study sites (outpatient clinic or ER) if the @entity1 experienced > or = 3 watery or looser-than normal stools and/or forceful @entity391 within any 24-hour period within the prior 3 days. The clinical severity of each @entity1 's illness was rated using a clinical scoring system and stool samples were tested for rotavirus antigen. Parents of rotavirus-positive @entity1 were invited to participate in focus group or individual interviews and subsequently completed a questionnaire regarding the impact of their @entity1 's illness. RESULTS: Of 62 enrolled @entity1 , 43 stool samples were collected and 63% tested positive for rotavirus. Illness was more severe in @entity1 with rotavirus-positive compared to rotavirus-negative @entity1902 (92% vs. 37.5% rated as moderate/severe). Seventeen parents of rotavirus-positive @entity1 participated in the interviews and completed the written questionnaire. Parents were frightened by the severity of @entity391 and @entity294 associated with @entity1902 , and noted that family life was impacted in several ways including @entity25 , missed work, and an inability to complete normal household tasks. They expressed frustration at the lack of a specific medication and the difficulty of treating the illness with oral rehydration solutions, but had a largely positive outlook concerning the prospect of a rotavirus vaccine. CONCLUSION: A better understanding of how @entity1902 impacts the family can help healthcare providers ease parental fears and advise them on the characteristics of this illness, practices to prevent @entity281 , and the optimal care of an affected @entity1 .

The impact of XXXX on the family.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children', 'child'] @entity294 :: ('MESH:D003967', 'Disease') :: ['diarrhea'] @entity391 :: ('MESH:D014839', 'Disease') :: ['vomiting'] @entity1902 :: ('MESH:D005759', 'Disease') :: ['gastroenteritis', 'rotavirus gastroenteritis'] @entity281 :: ('MESH:D007239', 'Disease') :: ['infection'] @entity25 :: ('MESH:D012893', 'Disease') :: ['loss of sleep']
@entity1902 :: (MESH:D005759,Disease) :: ['rotavirus gastroenteritis']
