tackling rotavirus
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W H A T I S R O T A V I R U S ?
Rotav i rus i l lness i s caused by a v i rus which enters the body by mouth and infects the intest ines . I t i s a part icu lar ly hardy and contag ious v i rus , capable of surv iv ing on inanimate surfaces for long per iods and spreading readi ly f rom chi ld to ch i ld and a lso to adul ts .
S Y M P T O M S O F R O T A V I R U S
This i l lness i s character ized by symptoms that last 3 -7 days , inc luding :
fever vomitingwatery diarrhea
Addi t ional ly , death may ensue due to severe dehydrat ion.
T R E A T M E N T F O R R O T A V I R U S
Since the infect ion is caused by a v i rus , ant ib iot ics and ant iparas i t i c drugs are inef fect ive , and care i s pr imar i ly support ive .
The f i rs t rotav i rus vacc ine , RotaShie ld (Wyeth Laborator ies ) was l i censed in the Uni ted States in 1998 but was wi thdrawn in 1999.
Now, Rotateq and Rotar ix are the preva i l ing vacc ines .
T R E A T M E N T E F F I C A C YAROUND THE GLOBE
8 0 - 9 0 % 6 1 % 3 7 %in middle- to h igh- income countr ies
in countr ies where rotav i rus infect ion
is greatest
in low- income countr ies
M A K I N G T R E A T M E N T S A C C E S S I B L EA new vacc ine , BRV-PV (Rotas i l ) , was des igned for pat ients in low- income countr ies .
Cost relative Is heat stable for as long as 6 months at 104 degrees F.Is heat stable for 2 years at 98.6 degrees F.Was found to have a calculated efficacy rate of 67% with no apparent short term adverse events