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Illnesses

Rotavirus

Rotavirus
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 5 to 6
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   7.45

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    childcare, worldwide, caregivers, relatively, commonly, behavior, effective, recovery, affected, tested, especially, toilet, better, diaper, urinate, healthcare
     content words:    United States, American Academy

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Rotavirus
By Jennifer Kenny 		  
1     It would be hard to find someone in the world that hasn't experienced a stomach bug. Even little ones are affected by outbreaks of diarrhea. In children aged three months to two years old, one virus is very commonly the cause of diarrhea. It is the rotavirus.
 
2     The rotavirus is responsible for three million cases of diarrhea in the United States every year. It is especially common in winter and spring. It often causes outbreaks in child care centers and children's hospitals. Although few children die from rotavirus in the United States, children in other countries worldwide, where healthcare is poor, often die from it. Throughout the world, almost all children have had rotavirus before they reach five years old. In the United States, approximately 50,000 are hospitalized each year. The severe cases are known as rotavirus gastroenteritis.
 
3     What are the symptoms of rotavirus? Obviously, lots of diarrhea is the primary symptom. The child may also suffer from nausea, cramping, and vomiting. A fever may be present. The child may even have a cough and runny nose.

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