Rotavirus Infection
Rotavirus is an infection that often results in severe diarrhea and hospitalization for children between the ages of six months and two years. The rotavirus is the most important viral cause of severe diarrhea in children worldwide. The symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. The symptoms are usually severe enough to require hospitalization and may last for 7 to 10 days. The diarrhea stools are described as watery or yellow without mucus or blood and can result in significant dehydration.
Nearly all children are infected by the time they're 5 years of age. Historically in the United States, rotavirus infection was responsible for more than 200,000 emergency room visits and 55,000 to 70,000 hospitalizations each year.
RotaTeq is not a shot is given by mouth
The Merck product, labeled RotaTeq , is considered a "live pentavalent human-bovine reassortant rotavirus vaccine. RotaTeq was extensively tested in a large study and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in February 2006.
RotaTeq is not a shot; the vaccine is given by mouth. Your child will receive 3 doses of the vaccine. The first dose is given when your child is 6 to 12 weeks of age, the second dose is given 4 to 10 weeks later, and the third dose is given 4 to 10 weeks after the second dose. The last (third) dose should be given to your child by 32 weeks of the age.
|
Pregnancy Week by Week
Pregnancy Explained A to Z
Pregnancy Blog
Ask Our Doc - Pregnancy Q & A 
Follow us on FaceBook
Follow us on Twitter
