T A C K L I N G R O T A V I R U S

BY DR. ALLEN CHERER

W H A T I S R O T A V I R U S ?

Rotav i rus i l lness i s caused by a v i rus which enters the body by mouth and infects the intest ines . I t i s a part icu lar ly hardy and contag ious v i rus , capable of surv iv ing on inanimate surfaces for long per iods and spreading readi ly f rom chi ld to ch i ld and a lso to adul ts .

S Y M P T O M S O F R O T A V I R U S

This i l lness i s character ized by symptoms that last 3 -7 days , inc luding :

fever vomitingwatery diarrhea

Addi t ional ly ,   death may ensue due to severe dehydrat ion.

T R E A T M E N T F O R R O T A V I R U S

Since the infect ion is caused by a v i rus , ant ib iot ics and ant iparas i t i c drugs are inef fect ive , and care i s pr imar i ly support ive .

The f i rs t rotav i rus vacc ine , RotaShie ld (Wyeth Laborator ies ) was l i censed in the Uni ted States in 1998 but was wi thdrawn in 1999.

Now, Rotateq and Rotar ix are the preva i l ing vacc ines .

T R E A T M E N T E F F I C A C YAROUND THE GLOBE

8 0 - 9 0 % 6 1 % 3 7 %in middle- to h igh- income countr ies

in countr ies where rotav i rus infect ion

is greatest

in low- income countr ies

M A K I N G T R E A T M E N T S A C C E S S I B L EA new vacc ine ,  BRV-PV (Rotas i l ) , was des igned for pat ients in low- income countr ies .

Cost relative Is heat stable for as long as 6 months at 104 degrees F.Is heat stable for 2 years at 98.6 degrees F.Was found to have a calculated efficacy rate of 67% with no apparent short term adverse events

F O R M O R Ev i s i t d r a l l e n c h e r e r . c o m