More cases of Rotavirus noted the past months
Unless there has been a positive lab test for Rotavirus, it cannot be assumed that it is rota causing the diarrhoea
SOME hospitals in Gauteng have had an increased incidence of babies with gastroenteritis despite having taken the Rotavirus vaccination that should have prevented this, said Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC.
“Rotaviruses are the leading cause of severe diarrhoea in children which can lead to dehydration and hospitalisation. I have been contacted by concerned mothers who say their babies got the vaccine either at a state clinic or a private pharmacy but had to be hospitalised after contracting gastroenteritis,” Bloom said in a statement.
According to Bloom there are seven varieties of Rotavirus and the available vaccines protect against five of them, so it is possible that there is an outbreak of the two other strains.
“The other possibility is that the vaccines were rendered ineffective because they were not refrigerated at some stage, particularly on the East Rand, where most of the cases appear to have occurred. The companies producing the vaccines need to explain why they have not worked and ensure that babies are properly immunized against this highly contagious virus,” Bloom added.
Symptoms of Rotavirus infection, which may last up to eight days, include fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and frequent, watery diarrhoea.
“The Gauteng Health Department should institute an urgent investigation and a plan to prevent a possible increase in Rotavirus infections,” Bloom said.
Dr Allison Glass, a clinical virologist with Lancet Laboratories, said: “We are seeing a lot of Rotavirus at the moment but there is a lot of gastroenteritis in general.” According to her, there are a few important things to note:
· The Rotavirus vaccine is not 100% but it does definitely reduce the severity of cases. Paediatricians have mentioned that since the introduction of the Rotavirus vaccine, they definitely see fewer cases of severe gastro due to rota. The efficacy of the vaccine may be reduced if it is not stored properly or if the baby does not receive all the recommended doses.
· Over the months of June and July, Rotavirus was detected in 22% of the stool samples submitted to Lancet from children under the age of 5. That means that we are seeing a lot of Rotavirus but it also indicates that there are many other causes of gastro besides Rotavirus.
Unless there has been a positive lab test for Rotavirus, it cannot be assumed that it is rota causing the diarrhoea.
