Traveller vaccination rotavirus

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Usama Talib, BSc, MD [2]

Overview[edit | edit source]

Protection against rotavirus diarrhoea is not specific to the needs of travelling children. In countries where vaccination of infants against rotavirus infections is routinely administered, incomplete or missed vaccination according to age of the child and national recommendations should be offered.

Disease cause[edit | edit source]

Strains of highly contagious rotaviruses.

Transmission[edit | edit source]

Mainly by the faecal-oral route, and by direct or indirect contact.

Nature of the disease[edit | edit source]

Rotavirus infection is characterized by watery diarrhea, vomiting and fever mainly in children aged >2 years. Severe cases may require rapid rehydration therapy, especially in young infants.

Geographical distribution[edit | edit source]

Worldwide it is a leading cause of dehydrating diarrhea, but fatal outcomes occur predominantly in low-income countries.

Risk for travellers[edit | edit source]

Unvaccinated children < 2 years of age are likely to be at increased risk of rotavirus infection in environments of poor hygiene. The risk for older children and adults, most of whom are immune, is negligible.

Vaccine[edit | edit source]

Two live attenuated oral vaccines are available; one based on a single rotavirus strain (monovalent), the other on five rotavirus strains (pentavalent). When administered according to the respective national recommendations (or following the schedule of routine vaccination against DTP), these vaccines are efficacious and safe.