Each year, dehydration due to severe rotavirus gastroenteritis is responsible for some 10,000 young Australian children being hospitalised, with an average stay of about two to three days. And many thousands more visit the doctor.

In Australia, severe rotavirus gastroenteritis can have an emotional and financial impact on families which also causes significant disruption and financial burden on the health system. Rotavirus costs the health system around $26 million each year.

Rotavirus gastro not only causes distress for the sick child and anxiety for the parents, but also disruption to the whole family's routine, including time off work, disruption to childcare arrangements and the additional cost of healthcare, nappies, foods and formulas.

Each year in Australia, some 10,000 young children are hospitalised with severe rotavirus gastro.

Prevention?