Breastfeeding is the universal remedy for preventing Rotavirus that accounts for 125 million cases of diarrhoea globally per year among children of ages under five. Out of the this figure, 106 million cases are reported from the developing countries, including Pakistan, according to Professor Ashraf Sultan Senior faculty member King Edward Medical University member from King Edward Medical University.
"The most special measure to avoid rotavirus diarrhoea is to opt for breastfeeding exclusively," he told journalists at an interactive session for health journalists arranged by Glaxo Smith Kline on "Rotavirus Diarrhea" commemorating the Global Hand Washing Day.
"In Pakistan 100,000 to 150,000 children die of diarrhoea every year," he informed the media persons. "Breastfeeding, hand washing is the solution. Breastfeeding, if continued for one year, can prevent diarrhoea." The professor was speaking on the topic of Rotavirus Diarrhoea: Sign, Symptoms and Prevention. Professor Ashraf said the main victims of this disease were children between ages of three months and two years.
"Pakistan is amongst the top six countries where infants and children suffer from the menace," he lamented. He regretted that bottle feeding practice was very high in Pakistan, adding that the diarrhoea damaged cells called enterocytes in the intestinal wall, causing malabsorption. Referring to the signs and symptoms, he said it usually started with vomiting and, if the mother did not breastfeed, it continued for six to seven days and after that the child died. "Dehydration was the main cause." "Rotavirus vaccine is a big breakthrough in curbing this disease." "We are very rich in diseases!" he sighed. When asked that in a situation when the health budget in Pakistan was miniscule how a common man could afford to spend money on vaccines, he said they had suggested the government to ensure clean drinking water that would cut the frequency of the virus by half but the government had its own priorities.
"In fact, the incidences of diarrhoea have multiplied after ORS was introduced," he said. The cost of curing the disease was much more than the cost of getting the vaccine. He said it was a widely believed concept that the children should not be given food if they were suffering from diarrhoea. Whereas, pure rice is used in ORS and Zinc supplements are also necessary. "If you go to a private hospital, the cost of treatment will be 2,000 rupees per day. It's the NICH and the tax payers bearing the cost of treatment of the virus," he said.
Professor Ashraf said often a child had three to five episodes of rotavirus from the age of three months to two years. "It is related directly to the socio-economic and environmental conditions," he said. "Provision of clean drinking water will cut the health budget by 50 per cent. But, we are fond of constructing buildings," he said. "Deaths due to this disease are 10 times more likely among babies who are not breastfed," he said.
"Either the public services should be improved or charities should come forward. Pakistan is the top country in the world in terms of giving charity," he observed. According to WHO Rotavirus vaccines can provide 85 per cent efficacy, and parents must priorities their children's health over everything else.