Rotavirus is one of the most important causes of diarrhea in children. Rotavirus causes infection in the stomach and intestines, causing watery diarrhea accompanied by vomiting, fever and abdominal pain. It is the most common cause of severe gastrointestinal infection in infants and children. It is known that it is very common in children under 5 years of age. Before the vaccine was introduced, the virus caused more than 2 million children to be hospitalized and more than 400 thousand children died every year around the world.
What are the Symptoms?
Symptoms of rotavirus infection begin within the first 48 hours after exposure to the virus. While it can occur as watery diarrhea that goes away on its own, it can also occur as severe diarrhea that causes fever of 390C and above, vomiting, mineral imbalance and serious fluid loss. It is an important infection in the first year of life as it requires hospitalization for a long time.
Transmission
The incidence of rotavirus, which is very contagious, increases especially in the winter months and is transmitted through the feces of infected individuals. spreads. Transmission occurs through person-to-person contact or when the virus enters the digestive tract through the mouth from contaminated objects and equipment.
Vaccination Schedule
It is not yet included in the routine vaccination calendar of the Ministry of Health. . However, as mentioned before, it can lead to serious illness; Every child should have the right to be immunized against safe, effective and vaccinated diseases.
In our country, there are two different vaccines produced by two different companies:
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Human rotavirus vaccine is administered at 2 and 4 months. (Rotarix)
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Human-bovine rotavirus vaccine is administered at 2, 4 and 6 months. (Rotateq)
First Rotavirus vaccine between 6-15 weeks; It should be applied at the 6th week at the earliest and at the age of 14 weeks and 6 days at the latest. At 15 weeks of age, it is too late for the first dose of the vaccine and it can no longer be administered. There should be at least a 1-month interval between rotavirus vaccinations. Rotavirus vaccine should not be administered after the end of the 8th month.
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