Obstacles to Immunization in Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Rotavirus Vaccine For Infants Protects Others Too, CDC Study Says
The infants who get the rotavirus vaccine aren't the only ones who benefit. New research shows that older children and even adults were less likely to be hospitalized with the gastrointestinal virus after the vaccine was introduced in the U.S. In 2006.
Rotavirus causes "severe watery diarrhea, often with vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Before the RotaTeq and Rotarix vaccines came on the market, nearly all U.S. Children became infected with rotavirus before their 5th birthday. Worldwide, more than half a million children under age 5 die as a result of rotavirus each year, the CDC says.
Among the youngest group of hospital patients -- those under the age of 4 -- the incidence of rotavirus dropped by 80% between the pre-vaccine years of 2000-06 and the post-vaccine years of 2008-10. In addition, there was a 70% drop for children ages 5 to 14 and a 53% drop for patients between the ages of 15 and 24.
The researchers also saw fewer hospitalizations for cases of gastroenteritis of unspecified cause after infants started getting the rotavirus vaccine. However, these reductions were smaller.
The research team, from the CDC's Division of Viral Diseases, analyzed data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, which tracks a nationally representative group of hospital patients. The researchers did not include figures from 2007 in their analysis because it was a "transition year" with limited vaccine coverage, they wrote.
The CDC experts gave the infant vaccine credit for reducing rotavirus hospitalizations in children and adults, and they cited several reasons. For starters, the biggest reduction in hospitalized patients came in March and April, which are usually peak months for rotavirus. Also, the more the vaccine was used in infants, the less likely older children and adults were to be hospitalized with rotavirus. By 2010, the last year in the analysis, "significant reductions" were seen in people of all ages, they wrote.
"These results point to the primacy of children in the transmission of rotavirus and illustrate how indirect benefits may amplify the effect of the U.S. Rotavirus vaccination program," they concluded.
The results appear in Wednesday's edition of the Journal of the American Medical Assn.
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Rotavirus In Infants: Symptoms, Treatment, And Complications - Medical News Today
Rotavirus is the leading cause of gastroenteritis in infants and young children. Symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. Due to an infant's small body mass, dehydration can be life threatening.
Rotavirus is a highly transmissible virus that causes viral gastroenteritis or inflammation of the stomach and intestines. It can result in abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Rotavirus can affect people of any age. However, in the United States, it is most common in children under 5 years.
The virus resolves on its own in about a week. Treatment focuses on managing the symptoms — particularly preventing and treating dehydration.
This article discusses diagnosing and treating rotavirus in infants, ways to prevent it, when to call a doctor, and more.
Usually, symptoms begin about 2 days after exposure to rotavirus.
Of those,dehydration is the most serious symptom. It is especially dangerous for infants because they have much less body mass than adults.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 2 million children are hospitalized each year with dehydration due to rotavirus.
Symptoms of dehydration in infants include:
Caregivers must seek medical help right away if an infant shows signs of dehydration.
Typically, the presence of fever, vomiting, and watery diarrhea is enough for a doctor to diagnose gastroenteritis but not to identify rotavirus as the cause. Determining the specific cause of uncomplicated gastroenteritis in babies is usually unnecessary.
If a doctor recommends finding the cause, laboratory testing is the only way to confirm a rotavirus diagnosis. This is because rotavirus shares similar clinical features as other diarrheal diseases.
A caregiver or healthcare professional will collect a stool sample from the infant's diaper. Once the lab receives the sample, a technician will analyze the stool for a rotavirus antigen.
In some circumstances, doctors may recommend testing for rotavirus, but it is not usual practice.
There is no specific medication to cure rotavirus infection. Treatment aims to reduce the symptoms.
The most effective treatment for dehydration is to take in more fluids. For infants, that means more breastmilk or formula more often than usual.
These rehydration drinks are available over the counter, or a doctor may recommend an at-home mix of:
In cases of severe dehydration or if the infant cannot keep liquids down due to excessive vomiting, treatment with IV fluids in the hospital may be necessary.
While good hygiene is important, it is not enough to prevent rotavirus infection.
Children should receive the first dose of either vaccine between 6 and 15 weeks of age and the final dose before they turn 8 months.
Both are oral vaccines, meaning a healthcare professional places liquid drops in the infant's mouth. The rotavirus vaccine prevents 40,000–50,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. Yearly, and infection is much less common than in the prevaccine era.
However, neither vaccine completely eliminates the risk of rotavirus, and it is still possible to contract the virus after vaccination. Typically, subsequent rotavirus infections are not as severe.
Rotavirus mainly affects children under 5 years of age and can cause fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration.
It is a highly transmissible virus. However, the rotavirus vaccine prevents 40,000–50,000 hospitalizations yearly, and infection is much less common than in the prevaccine era.
Doctors can diagnose an infection during a physical exam and recommend ways to treat the symptoms and prevent serious complications, such as dehydration.
While there is no cure for rotavirus, addressing the symptoms as soon as possible can help lessen the severity of the illness until it runs its course.
Caregivers should seek immediate medical attention if an infant with rotavirus shows signs of dehydration.
Rotavirus After Vaccination: What You Need To Know - Healthline
Your baby might be extra fussy or experience mild side effects after each dose of the rotavirus vaccine, but this should go away in a few days. Complications from the vaccine are very rare, and the benefits far outweigh the risks.
Rotavirus is a contagious virus that causes diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. It mostly affects babies and children under age 5. Severe cases of rotavirus may require emergency medical treatment for dehydration.
Rotavirus used to be a common illness among children younger than 5 years. Today, vaccination against rotavirus prevents up to 50,000 hospitalizations of babies and young children in the United States.
Here's what you can expect after your child receives the rotavirus vaccine.
The rotavirus vaccine comes with a risk of side effects. In general, though, the risks associated with getting the vaccine are lower than the risks associated with contracting the virus.
In fact, most babies don't experience any side effects of rotavirus vaccination at all.
In other cases, side effects are mild and can include a temporary bout of gas, diarrhea, or vomiting the week after vaccination. Some infants might seem fussier than usual in the days following the vaccine.
Some healthcare professionals administer additional vaccines alongside the rotavirus vaccine. If that's the case, your baby might experience other side effects following vaccination.
Your doctor should explain what to expect regarding the side effects of vaccination and when to seek medical care.
How long do side effects of the rotavirus vaccine last?Side effects can last up to 7 days following rotavirus vaccination. But most infants recover within several days.
Keep in mind that side effects can occur after each dose of the vaccine. Babies in the United States typically receive two or three doses, depending on the brand of vaccine:
Severe complications of rotavirus vaccination are very rare and can include intussusception or allergic reactions.
Intussusception occurs when part of the small intestine slides into the large intestine, creating a blockage. It's a life threatening condition that requires immediate treatment. It affects approximately 1 out of every 20,000 to 1 out of every 100,000 infants who receive the rotavirus vaccine, typically within a week after either the first or second dose, according to the CDC.
Allergic reaction to the rotavirus vaccine is extremely rare. The risk of a severe reaction is approximately 1 out of 1 million doses, with symptoms appearing in the first hours after vaccination.
When taken as recommended, rotavirus vaccines are highly effective. The vaccine significantly decreases your child's chances of developing symptoms after being exposed to the virus.
How common is rotavirus after vaccination?According to the CDC, the vaccine protects approximately 90% of children exposed to the virus from developing severe symptoms and 70% to 80% of children from developing any symptoms at all.
Plus, rotavirus vaccination has had population-wide effects. Since the introduction of the vaccine more than a decade ago, disease rates have decreased significantly in the United States.
According to a 2019 study, hospitalizations for rotavirus among children ages 4 and under decreased by more than 85% between 2000 and 2013.
Because of rotavirus vaccination, your child is less likely to be exposed to the virus in the first place.
If your child was recently vaccinated against rotavirus, you might be wondering what to expect.
When does diarrhea start after getting the rotavirus vaccine?
Mild diarrhea is a rare side effect of rotavirus vaccination. It can start anytime within a week after vaccination.
How long does a baby stay unsettled after the rotavirus vaccine?
Following the rotavirus vaccine, your baby might be fussy, cranky, or agitated. This side effect shouldn't last more than a few days.
How long does rotavirus remain in a baby's stool after vaccination?
Your child will receive the rotavirus vaccine rally via droplets. After vaccination, your baby excretes the virus in their stool. It can take up to 10 days for the virus to leave your baby's stool.
Rotavirus prevention tipsRotavirus is highly contagious. While adults can contract the virus, children are more likely to get it.
Rotavirus is transmitted through infected matter. You can get it from touching contaminated fecal matter, surfaces, objects, or food and then touching your mouth.
You can prevent rotavirus by washing your hands regularly and practicing good hygiene. But the best way to help your child avoid rotavirus is to get them vaccinated.
Although rotavirus is much less common than it once was, it's still important to get your child vaccinated. When fewer children are vaccinated, the chances of a rotavirus outbreak increase.
Vaccinated infants and children are much less likely to develop rotavirus symptoms or require hospitalization compared with unvaccinated infants and children. In addition, symptoms are less likely to be severe.
Your child might experience mild side effects, like fussiness, gas, or diarrhea. Severe complications are very rare. It's clear that the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh the risks.
Talk with a doctor to learn more about how to protect your child from rotavirus.
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