Written by Sindhuja Prabhu
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Babies fall sick ever so often! As a parent, when you think it is something serious and panic during that first viral attack, the doctor says it’s normal and nothing to worry about. When you think it is normal vomiting and diarrhea, they scare you it could be Rotavirus! Know everything about the Rotavirus vaccine.
Now, what exactly is Rotavirus? Why do many parents and sometimes even the governments of developing nations panic about this and insist on the vaccine? Read on to find out all about this dreaded disease!
In This Article
Rotavirus, as the name suggests, is a virus and not bacteria that affects very young babies. It affects the majority of babies. Not every case is severe. There is no need to hospitalize the baby unless it is severe. The cases range from mild – which can be treated at home, to severe which requires hospitalization for a few days and sometimes can even lead to death. Yes, you read that right! Death! But this is very rare and happens only in a very few cases where the baby is not diagnosed and treated at the right time.
So, what exactly happens when a baby contracts Rotavirus? How do you identify a Rotavirus infection?
The onset of Rotavirus causes a mild fever. An upset stomach that can cause vomiting and diarrhea follows the fever. When the diarrhea is very frequent, watery, green, or brown in color accompanied by a foul smell, it is a warning bell that it can be a severe infection.
Frequent vomiting and severe diarrhea will cause dehydration, which can cause the baby to go into shock or suffer from convulsions.
So, how do you know your baby is dehydrated? Watch out for these signs in your baby:
While the symptoms of Rotavirus infection are common symptoms for any infection in a baby, if they seem to be serious and last for more than a day, one should immediately call the doctor.
The vaccine is in liquid form. The administration is by the mouth. The babies receive it at 2 months, and 4 months and for certain brands, the third dosage at 6 months of age.
Please note the age limit of this vaccine is 8 months. And a baby over 8 months SHOULD NOT be given this vaccine as per general recommendation. Do check with your doctor before you make a decision.
If you are asking “when should I avoid my baby’s Rotavirus vaccine”? here is when:
In all the above instances, you must discuss with your doctor and give them a full background of your baby’s health before you give them this vaccine.
Wonder “why should my baby have the Rotavirus vaccine?” or are there any benefits of the Rotavirus vaccine?
This virus has symptoms similar to most other infections that are common in babies. If left unchecked, the Rotavirus can cause severe dehydration in a baby, which can sometimes be difficult to identify in small babies. Since it is a highly contagious disease, it is advisable to give your baby the Rotavirus vaccine, unless your doctor says otherwise.
If you have given your baby the vaccine, then here are the side effects babies to watch out for:
Allergic reactions appear within minutes of administering it. However, the more serious side effects mentioned above should ideally not last more than a week. If they persist, please contact your doctor immediately.
Yes, it is safer to get your baby vaccinated against this disease that has symptoms similar to any other infection.
Babies between 2 and 8 months of age can take it.
Rotavirus vaccine is generally given at 2 months, 4 months and at 6 months if a third dosage is necessary.
The Rotavirus vaccine cost depends on the brand as one requires 2 dosages while the other requires 3. Please check with your pediatrician.
Yes, Rotavirus is highly contagious. It can not only spread easily between babies (especially in a baby care center) but can also spread to the adults handling the babies as well. It can transfer to other babies through the adult as well.
Sindhuja, a mother of two, is an obsessive mom with a keen interest in psychology, especially child psychology. Her quest for knowledge and way with words led her to become a passionate content writer. She transformed her love for writing into a full-fledged career which incidentally also turned up being the perfect stress buster for the last 5 years.Read more.
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