Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in children, leading to about 3 million cases of diarrhea, 55,000 hospitalizations and 20 to 40 deaths in the United States each year. Rotavirus infections also lead to the deaths of more than 600,000 children in the world each year.
Since children do not develop complete immunity to rotavirus infections, of which there are several subtypes, they can get infected more than once.
This is why there are usually yearly outbreaks of rotavirus infections (especially among kids in daycare) during the winter, early spring and often during flu and RSV season.
Rotavirus Vaccine
Rotavirus symptoms include vomiting, watery diarrhea (without blood or mucus), fever and abdominal pain. Although the fever and vomiting typically only last a few days, the diarrhea can often last at least 3 to 8 days longer.
Even when it doesn't lead to dehydration and hospitalization, the symptoms of a rotavirus infection can be bothersome for young children, which is why most parents were excited about the RotaTeq rotavirus vaccine when it became available in 2006.
Given as a 3-dose series when an infant is 2, 4 and 6 months old, this oral vaccine is currently a part of the routine childhood immunization schedule.
Rotavirus Update
How well is the rotavirus vaccine working?
According to the CDC, during the 2007 to 2008 rotavirus season, rotavirus activity decreased by more than 50% as compared with the 15 previous rotavirus seasons from 1991 to 2006.
This is especially exciting news when you consider that only about half of the number of infants actually get the rotavirus vaccine right now, although immunization rates are increasing. Also, since it is only given to infants, most older children would not have been given the vaccine and could still be spreading rotavirus infections.
Rotavirus Vaccine Update
In addition to continued confirmation that RotaTeq is a very effective vaccine against rotavirus infections, the two dose Rotarix rotavirus vaccine has been approved by the FDA and will likely be available for infants soon too.
Continued monitoring has also confirmed that the RotaTeq vaccine is safe too, as there has been no association with intussusception so far — like there was for RotaShield, the old rotavirus vaccine.
Sources:
Delayed Onset and Diminished Magnitude of Rotavirus Activity --- United States, November 2007--May 2008. MMWR June 25, 2008 / 57 (Early Release), 1-4.
Postlicensure monitoring of intussusception after RotaTeq vaccination in the United States, February 1, 2006, to September 25, 2007.
Update on Rotavirus Vaccines Bresee JS - Pediatr Infect Dis J - 01-NOV-2005; 24(11): 947-52
