Rotavirus is a contagious virus that can cause gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines). Infants and young children are most likely to get rotavirus disease. They can become severely dehydrated and need to be hospitalised and can even die.
Rotavirus is a virus that causes diarrhoea, mostly in babies and young children. A diarrhoea could be severe, and lead to dehydration. Vomiting and fever are also common in babies with rotavirus.
Before rotavirus vaccine, rotavirus disease was a common and serious health problem for children all around the world. Almost all children globally had at least one rotavirus infection before their 5th birthday.
Rotavirus vaccines are very effective at preventing rotavirus disease.
Two brands of rotavirus vaccine are available. Your baby will get either 2 or 3 doses, depending on which vaccine is used.
Doses are recommended at these ages:
Third Dose: 6 months of age (if needed)
Your child must get the first dose of rotavirus vaccine before 15 weeks of age, and the last by age 8 months. Rotavirus vaccine may safely be given at the same time as other vaccines.
Almost all babies who get rotavirus vaccine will be protected from severe rotavirus diarrhoea. And most of these babies will not get rotavirus diarrhoea at all.
The vaccine will not prevent diarrhoea or vomiting caused by other germs.
Another virus called porcine circovirus (or parts of it) can be found in both rotavirus vaccines. This is not a virus that infects people, and there is no known safety risk.
There is an exception to who can get the vaccine. A baby who has had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a dose of rotavirus vaccine should not get another dose. A baby who has a severe allergy to any part of rotavirus vaccine should not get the vaccine.
Babies who have had a type of bowel blockage called intussusception should not get rotavirus vaccine. Babies who are mildly ill can get the vaccine. Babies who are moderately or severely ill should wait until they recover. This includes babies with moderate or severe diarrhoea or vomiting.
With a vaccine, like any medicine, there is a chance of side effects. These are usually mild and go away on their own. Serious side effects are also possible but are rare. Most babies who get rotavirus vaccine do not usually have any problems with it.
Source: WWWN, HWN Africa.
: 2016-09-06 18:49:30 | : 1437