Define Rotavirus & Diarrhoea Prevention. Describe its clinical features and treatment.

Rotavirus

• Rotavirus is the commonest cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhoea in infants and young children worldwide.
• It spreads faeco-orally, damages the small-intestinal villi, and causes watery diarrhoea with vomiting and fever, peaking in the 6–24 month age group.

Rotavirus Vaccine

• A live, oral vaccine given in infancy (e.g. At 6, 10 and 14 weeks with routine immunisation in India).
• Substantially reduces severe rotavirus diarrhoea, hospitalisation and deaths.
• Part of the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) in India.

Other Preventive Measures ('the Diarrhoea Prevention Package')

• Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, then safe complementary feeding.
• Safe drinking water, sanitation and hand-washing with soap.
• Measles immunisation and vitamin A supplementation.
• Improved personal & food hygiene; safe disposal of stools.

Treatment Package (for Prevention of Complications)

• Low-osmolarity ORS + zinc for 14 days + continued feeding — the standard of care that prevents deaths.

Vaccine is given at 6, 10 and 14 weeks under UIP.

Clinical Features of Rotavirus

• Sudden vomiting followed by profuse watery diarrhoea, often with low-grade fever.
• Peaks in the 6–24 month age group; a common cause of severe dehydration needing hospitalisation, especially in the cooler months.

Vaccine — Key Points

• Oral, live vaccine given early in infancy alongside other primary vaccines.
• Given early because the first dose must be before a certain age (intussusception-risk window); highly effective against severe disease.

WHY Early Vaccination Matters

• Rotavirus infection is most severe in the first 2 years, so the vaccine is given early in infancy to protect during the peak-risk period.
• Combined with breastfeeding, hygiene, vitamin A and measles vaccine, it substantially reduces severe diarrhoea and deaths.