Rotavirus Vaccine Helps Prevent Diarrhoea in Babies

Rotavirus is a virus that causes gastroenteritis, an infection of the intestines. The infection damages the inner lining of the intestine and as a result no nutrients being absorbed by the body.

Each year an estimated 453,000 children die from diarrhoeal disease caused by rotavirus worldwide.

Rotavirus causes diarrhea mostly in babies and young children. Children between six months and two years are most vulnerable. 

Most babies who get the vaccine will not get rotavirus diarrhea at all, and almost all of them will be protected from severe rotavirus diarrhea.

Symptoms of a rotavirus infection :

•  Fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhoea, which may be mild to severe and usually lasts for three to seven days
• Abdominal cramps
• Cough
• Runny nose

Indian scientists have created a low-cost version of a vaccine to fight rotavirus, which kills about 500,000 children each year, BBC reports.

Baby could get either 2 or 3 doses, depending on which brand is used.
Mainly There are two effective rotavirus vaccines as Rotarix by GlaxoSmithKline and RotaTeq by Merck.

The doses are recommended at these ages:

First Dose: 2 months of age
Second Dose: 4 months of age
Third Dose: 6 months of age (if needed)

The first dose may be given as early as 6 weeks of age, and should be given by age 14 weeks 6 days.
The last dose should be given by 8 months of age. Rotavirus vaccine may be given at the same time
as other childhood vaccines.