(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Â Vaccination against rotavirus, the leading cause of severe dehydrating diarrhoea and infection in infants, is now part of the childhood immunisation programme for babies between two and four months.
The vaccination is given free-of-charge by all government hospitals and centres across the Abu Dhabi emirate.
A study carried out by the Health Authority â€" Abu Dhabi (HAAD) in a hospital here showed that rotavirus is responsible in 50 per cent of cases of diarrhoea in young children.
According to HAAD statistics, rotavirus infection tripled in 2012 to over 500 cases from 2011 and 2010. The most reported cases were from March till June, peaking in May last year.
Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe childhood diarrhoea often accompanied by vomiting and fever and can lead to dehydration. Infection may last for three to eight days and may require hospital admission. Children may stop eating and drinking while they are sick.
"Rotavirus is a highly infectious virus with over 95 per cent of children under five getting infected by this disease because their immune system is not strong enough to protect them," said Dr Omniyat Al Hajeri, director of Public Health and Research at HAAD.
Rotavirus enters the body through the mouth. The virus is found in the stool (faeces) of infected people and can spread by hands, baby objects and toys and diaper-changing surfaces. Dr Al Hajeri noted the importance of hygiene in decreasing infection.
Rotavirus vaccines are currently available in oral drops of two or three doses, and costs from Dh255 per dose for Rotarix (two doses) and Dh273 per dose for RotaTeq (three doses).
The first dose may be given as early as six weeks of age and not later than 14 weeks and six days. The last dose should be given by six or eight months depending on which brand is used.
"We advise parents to be committed to the immunisation programme especially during the first month. Once the children exceeded six months, he or she will be deprived of the vaccine," urged Dr Farida Al Hosani, manager of Communicable Disease at HAAD.
According to Dr Badreyya Al Shehhi, senior officer for vaccines, Communicable Disease HAAD, the "window" is very restrictive for this jab due to the "theoretical risk of developing side-effects" when given late or after six months. This includes possible intestinal obstruction.
Although the inoculation will not altogether prevent gastroenteritis from occurring, this would however prevent hospital admission and will lessen the duration and severity of illness.
In the US, data showed that after four years of including rotavirus in their immunisation programme, hospital stay was reduced by half.
According to Dr Eeva Liisa Langille, head paediatrician and neonatologist at the Burjeel Hospital, in the season when the virus is active, a hospital sees between three to four admissions a day or 30-40 a month.
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