Rotavirus Vaccine: 5 Facts About Avoiding a Life-threatening Stomach Bug
Did you know that there is a vaccine that can protect you and your family from a serious gastrointestinal (GI) illness? Here are 5 facts you should know about the rotavirus vaccine.
Infection with rotavirus can cause a life-threatening gastrointestinal condition.
Rotavirus is the leading cause of serious gastroenteritis (stomach flu) in the world. An infection with this virus can cause days of significant vomiting and large amounts of diarrhea. This may require hospitalization to treat dehydration because of the reduced ability to take in liquids by mouth. Serious dehydration, if not treated, may lead to complications and death.
Worldwide, about 200,000 people die each year from this infection. Prior to the development of the rotavirus vaccine in the US in 2006, there were 205,000 to 272,000 emergency department (ED) visits and 55,000 to 70,000 hospitalizations each year for management of rotavirus. The estimated effectiveness of the rotavirus vaccine to prevent ED visits and hospitalizations is 78%.
People infected with rotavirus can pass it along to others.
The infection usually starts with vomiting, followed by watery diarrhea and sometimes a fever. The virus is spread through the fecal-oral route, meaning that infected particles get into a person’s mouth from contaminated food, water, or surfaces. This usually occurs due to poor handwashing and cleaning. Thus, the spread of rotavirus is common in the home and daycare settings.
There is no medicine to treat rotavirus.
Anti-viral medications are not available to treat rotavirus infection. Treatment is focused on hydration (taking in liquids) and controlling the volume of diarrhea. If the person is unable to hydrate by mouth, then hospitalization is necessary to give intravenous fluids. It is estimated that 200,000 people die worldwide each year due to rotavirus infection.
Vaccination to prevent infection with rotavirus can prevent this disease.
It is important to give the vaccine to young infants.
Rotavirus usually infects children younger than 5 years of age. Therefore, it is important for infants to receive the vaccine at the recommended time, usually around 2 months of age. The vaccine is given as drops into the mouth. It is also important to receive the full schedule of 2 or 3 doses, depending on the brand of vaccine given.
The rotavirus vaccine is well tolerated.
Most infants have little or no reactions to the vaccine, sometimes irritability or mild diarrhea. A rare side effect called intussusception (a form of bowel obstruction) was reported with earlier vaccines but now occurs very rarely with the current reformulated products. If you have questions about receiving this vaccine, it is important to ask your pharmacist or physician. Getting vaccinated will protect your child and family from rotavirus infection.