Rotaviruses are the most common cause of acute childhood gastroenteritis in children under five years of age worldwide. It has been estimated that 114 million episodes of diarrhea and more than 600,000 deaths occur each year in the world, with the majority occurring in developing countries.
Vaccination is the only effective preventive measure to prevent rotavirus, although given the genetic diversity that this virus presents, it is necessary to establish epidemiological surveillance systems that allow to know the circulating serotypes in different countries and regions before and after the start of vaccination against this virus.
This viral gastroenteritis in children doubles its incidence in winter, because of the cold, coinciding with the epidemics of bronchiolitis and influenza.
Recall that this disease is transmitted orally and is spread very easily among minors, and although the number of hospitalizations has decreased considerably since vaccination has been introduced, it is at this time of the year when a higher incidence is observed.
In Spain, it is estimated that 8,000 children under the age of five enter the hospital every year because of viral gastroenteritis, since this disease, which causes diarrhea, vomiting and fever, can lead to dehydration in many cases.
Although hygienic precautions are taken, rotavirus is highly contagious and resistant. In fact, studies show that between 30 and 50% of adults in contact with an infected child are infected, albeit asymptomatically.
Of all these issues has been discussed in the VIII Conference on Update in Vaccines, held recently in Pamplona. Also on the differences in the vaccine calendar by communities (something that directly affects rotavirus vaccines, but also others, such as the age of chickenpox vaccination).
This is an issue that, as we have seen a few days ago, seems to have the days counted, since the Minister of Health has shown the will to unify the vaccination schedules of Spain.
We will look forward to the unification of calendars, as important decisions will have to be made, and in the meantime we hope that this winter the incidence of cases of childhood rotavirus gastroenteritis Do not increase as much as expected.
