The Philippines is one of the countries in Southeast Asia to have a rotavirus vaccine.
In 2012, the Philippines was the first country in Southeast Asia where the rotavirus vaccine was first introduced on the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO). The childhood immunization schedule prepared by the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS), and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Sociery of the Philippines (PIDSP), as well as the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV), advises that your children should be given a rotavirus vaccine before first year.
Rotavirus is an infection that is highly contagious and can be dangerous in infants and children. According to the Mayo Clinic, rotavirus is the most common cause of diarrhea in children and one of the leading causes of death in children worldwide. Although children are commonly affected, adults can also be victims.
Rotavirus is spread through hand-to-mouth contact. For example, if your child has rotavirus and you do not wash your hands after you change your diaper or you do not wash your hands after accompanying him or her to use the toilet, the virus will be passed on to those you touch. The virus can also come to you when you touch the hand of someone who is contaminated or touches a contaminated item, then you touch your mouth, or eat contaminated food.
Symptoms of rotavirus and its possible complications
If you are infected with rotavirus, symptoms will be noticeable in the first two days. The first symptoms of rotavirus are fever, vomiting, severe diarrhea, and abdominal pain. An infected child may also show other symptoms such as black stools, or stools that include blood and pus, weakness, irritability and pain. These symptoms can last up to eight days.
Dehydration is considered the most serious complication of rotavirus and can lead to infant mortality. If you find that your child has symptoms of dehydration, such as dry mouth, slight urination, and lethargy, see your doctor immediately.
Childhood Immunization Schedule 2019: Vaccines Your Child Needs From Birth to 18 Years Old
Childhood Immunization Schedule 2019: Vaccines Your Child Needs From Birth to 18 Years Old
The MMR Vaccine Does Not Cause Autism, According to Latest Study of More Than 650,000 Kids
The MMR Vaccine Does Not Cause Autism, According to Latest Study of More Than 650,000 Kids
How to cure and prevent rotavirus
There is no specific cure for rotavirus, according to the Mayo Clinic. It is not recommended to take antibiotics to the patient because the antibiotic is anti-bacterial and not viral. Anti-diarrhea medications are also not recommended.
The patient is subjected to intravenous (IV) fluids to treat rotavirus if the patient experiences severe dehydration. Meanwhile, people experiencing severe diarrhea are advised to have oral rehydration fluids to replace the missing minerals better than water or other types of liquids.
One effective way to prevent the spread of rotavirus is to have good hygiene. Washing your hands after using the toilet and after changing your child's diaper is a big help. But having good hygiene does not guarantee that your child will no longer be infected with rotavirus. Having a rotavirus vaccine is still the most effective way to prevent your child from getting an infectious disease. The rotavirus vaccine is the best protection for a child.
There are two types of rotavirus vaccines that can be used for infants, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The first is RotaTeq (RV5), which is given in three doses at 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months. The second class is Rotarix (RV1), which is given in two doses at 2 months and 4 months. The same vaccine is given orally (by dripping into the child's mouth) instead of injection.
The rotavirus vaccine is most effective when the first dose is given before the child reaches the age of 15 weeks, according to the CDC. It is recommended that parents be given all doses of rotavirus vaccine before he or she reaches 8 months of age. The number of doses a child needs depends on the type of rotavirus vaccine his or her doctor prescribes. Rotavirus vaccine can also be combined with other types of vaccine.
There is no vaccine that is 100% effective, but because of its benefits, it is important to give it to every child. For example, before the rotavirus vaccine was introduced in the United States in 2006, rotavirus was considered a serious risk to children in that country, according to Healthy Children. Each year, more than 200,000 children are operated on in the emergency room, and up to 70,000 are hospitalized.
Now that the rotavirus vaccine is available, the number of infected patients in the U.S. has dropped significantly. which needs to be rushed to the hospital. According to CDC notes, nine out of 10 people who are given a rotavirus vaccine have a high chance of not developing a serious rotavirus disease and approximately seven out of 10 are protected from rotavirus disease and any type of serious illnesses.
