Rotavirus: the prognosis is favorable - Prevention

Prevention of rotavirus infection

Rotavirus can cause intense diarrhea in infants and young children; vomiting and fever often occur during illness. Sometimes children, infected with rotavirus are not able to take plenty of fluids, causing dehydration is developing, especially dangerous for infants. Fortunately, there are several ways to prevent rotavirus, which allows a high degree of guarantee to protect the child against rotavirus.

Vaccination

The most common method for the prevention of rotavirus infection in both children and adults - vaccination. For the prevention of rotavirus infection have developed two vaccines containing attenuated live virus - RotaTeq (RotaTeq) and Rotarix (Rotarix). RotaTeq requires three doses: the first is assigned to the child in two months, the second - in four months and the last - at age six months old. The first dose of the vaccine against rotavirus can be assigned to a child after the first six weeks of life. Rotarix vaccine is recommended for children aged from six to twenty-four months.

Both vaccines are administered orally, and effectively prevent the appearance of the symptoms of rotavirus infection in infants and young children (according to research, the effectiveness of preventive vaccination of eighty-five - ninety-eight per cent).

Vaccination against rotavirus can be done simultaneously with vaccination against other diseases.

A vaccine as any other medication, could potentially cause a number of side effects - for example, an allergic reaction Allergic reactions: how to understand why you tickle in the throat . The risk of really dangerous to human health from the adverse effects of the vaccine against rotavirus infection is minimal. The weakened live virus (circovirus, porcine circovirus), contained in the vaccine against rotavirus infections, does not threaten human health and does not cause viral infection. Children usually tolerate vaccination very easily. In rare cases, after a single dose of the drug observed vomiting or temporary diarrhea, irritability Irritability - you try to control my temper . Finally, in one case out of a hundred thousand, and there is a rare consequence of vaccination as intussusception (a type of bowel obstruction Ileus - the reasons may be different , The cause of which is the implementation of one part of the intestine into the lumen of the other), requiring surgical intervention.

Who can and who can not be vaccinated against rotavirus

All full-term children vaccinated can begin to do between 6 and 14 weeks of life. Children who are breastfed can also be vaccinated against rotavirus.

The amount of data on immunization of infants born before 37 weeks of pregnancy, is still limited, but this possibility should be considered, since these children in the first year of life increased risk of severe gastroenteritis requiring hospitalization.

The first vaccination is not recommended after 15 weeks of life.

The last dose of the vaccine must be administered before the child reaches 8 months, as long as enough information about the safety of vaccines against rotavirus for older children.

The child, who had severe, life-threatening allergic reaction to the first dose of the vaccine should not be administered a second dose.

The child, who had a severe allergic reaction to latex, you can not give the vaccine Rotarisk since its packaging is present latex.

Information regarding the safety of a vaccine against rotavirus for children and adults with a suppressed immune system The immune system - how it works?   absent. However, in children and in adults with immune deficiency caused by various reasons, rotavirus can lead to severe and sometimes deadly forms of gastroenteritis.

The vaccination

Roateq vaccine is administered at age 2, 4 and 6 months Rotarix - 2 and 4 months. The first dose of the vaccine can be administered no later than the day when the child is 14 weeks and 6 days. Between vaccination should take place at least 4 weeks. Vaccinations against rotavirus can be done simultaneously with other vaccines. If possible, the entire series of vaccinations should be carried out using one and the same product. However, if for some reason it is impossible, or not know which product was used for the first vaccination, to postpone the vaccination is not necessary - a series of vaccinations to complete the product, which is available to the expert.

Side effects

Within seven days after a dose of the vaccine in children can observe slight temporary diarrhea and vomiting.

Vaccinating children against rotavirus can protect unvaccinated adults

Scientists have discovered that vaccinating children against rotavirus infection may indirectly protect unvaccinated adults from contracting the virus.

Before the advent of the vaccine due to rotavirus each year, 24 million people consulted a doctor, 2.4 million required hospitalization, and 453000 for infants and young children the infection ends in death. Once the vaccine has been developed and become widely available, the incidence began to decline sharply. Moreover, it turned out that the number of unvaccinated adults becoming infected with rotavirus, a few years after the appearance of the vaccine has decreased by almost half.

Experts suggest that the mass vaccination of children reduces the risk of infection with rotavirus in adults - in fact often infection occurs through close contact with sick children. At the same time it notes that each year rotavirus genotypes are changing, and it is difficult to say how long this will remain a useful "side effect" Vaccination of children.

Hygienically

Because newborns and young children are most likely to suffer from rotavirus infection, from an early age for the prevention of rotavirus infection of the child must be accustomed to personal hygiene. For example, one of the simplest methods for the prevention of rotavirus infection - the habit of washing their hands after using the restroom and before eating. You also need to wean from the habit of licking the baby or put in your mouth toys or other small objects that a child plays - rotavirus over several days can remain active on the contaminated surface.