Traveller vaccination rotavirus
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Traveler Vaccination |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Usama Talib, BSc, MD [2]
Overview
Protection against rotavirus diarrhoea is not specific to the needs of travelling children. In countries where vaccination of infants against rotavirus infections is routinely administered, incomplete or missed vaccination according to age of the child and national recommendations should be offered.
Disease cause
Strains of highly contagious rotaviruses.
Transmission
Mainly by the faecal-oral route, and by direct or indirect contact.
Nature of the disease
Rotavirus infection is characterized by watery diarrhea, vomiting and fever mainly in children aged >2 years. Severe cases may require rapid rehydration therapy, especially in young infants.
Geographical distribution
Worldwide it is a leading cause of dehydrating diarrhea, but fatal outcomes occur predominantly in low-income countries.
Risk for travellers
Unvaccinated children < 2 years of age are likely to be at increased risk of rotavirus infection in environments of poor hygiene. The risk for older children and adults, most of whom are immune, is negligible.
Vaccine
Two live attenuated oral vaccines are available; one based on a single rotavirus strain (monovalent), the other on five rotavirus strains (pentavalent). When administered according to the respective national recommendations (or following the schedule of routine vaccination against DTP), these vaccines are efficacious and safe.