Rotavirus vaccination and diarrhoea prevention

Many parents whose responsibility it is to ensure their children benefit from the prevention of diarrhoea, may not be aware that there is a vaccine called Rotavirus that would be available in the Expanded Programme Immunization EPI schedule for the 19 northern states.  Rotavirus is a virus that causes diarrhoea and other intestinal symptoms. It’s […]

Many parents whose responsibility it is to ensure their children benefit from the prevention of diarrhoea, may not be aware that there is a vaccine called Rotavirus that would be available in the Expanded Programme Immunization EPI schedule for the 19 northern states. 

Rotavirus is a virus that causes diarrhoea and other intestinal symptoms. It’s very contagious and is the most common cause of diarrhoea in infants and young children worldwide. 

Diarrhoea disease caused by rotavirus is most common in infants and young children of 3 -34 months of age, however, older children can be affected. 

It commonly causes severe watery diarrhoea and children who develop it can become dehydrated and may need to be hospitalised because without proper treatment and care, death may occur. 

If your child has come in contact with rotavirus, symptoms won’t show up for about two days, then they’ll have fever, vomiting and stomach pain. Rotavirus usually starts with these symptoms which then fade away. 

Diarrhoea begins after the first three symptoms have stopped. As the virus works its way through the child’s system, the diarrhoea can hang on for five to seven  days. 

Rotavirus vaccination is therefore the best way to protect children against diarrhoea disease caused by the virus; children who get the vaccine will be protected from severe diarrhoea caused by rotavirus. 

The vaccine, which hitherto was very expensive in our hospitals, and which has no side effect, will be freely available in all health facilities during the fixed and outreach immunization sessions. 

When the exercise commences next Monday, children are expected to get the three doses of the vaccine orally, 1st dose at six weeks, 2nd and 3rd at 10 and 14 weeks respectively. Therefore parents should please ensure their children complete their booster doses of their immunization schedule. 

Proper personal and environmental hygiene should be strictly adhered to, as well as good nutrition including exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of children. 

Hand washing with soap and water are all useful for general preventive measures against diarrhoeal diseases caused by rotavirus and other germs. 

 

Mrs. Nana Yusuf, Head, Advocacy Communication and Social Mobilization, FCTPHCB