Made by Bharat Biotec, Rotovac, the study says has a 1.6-fold increased risk of intussusception among vaccinated infants – a fact that was not previously detected in initial analyses.
Doctors say dehydrated children need IV fluids to rehydrate and so if their dehydration gets severe, a child could start convulsing or go into shock.
How to prevent rotavirus ?
A few best ways to prevent rotavirus and protect the health of your kids is by making sure they get the rotavirus vaccines.
And so, more than 90 per cent of vaccinated children either get protected from severe rotavirus or avoid the disease altogether.
The study has has emphasized the need for parents to be informed about this risk due to the vaccine's potential to mimic dysentery symptoms
The indigenously made Rotovac – the rotavirus vaccine included in the government's immunization programme is associated with an increased risk of intussusception in infants, the Economic Times reported citing a study by the International Journal of Risk and Safety in Medicine.
Intussusception is a serious medical condition that occurs when a part of the intestine folds into the section immediately ahead of it, causing an obstruction that prevents food from passing through. It's also known as bowel "telescoping" in itself. It can lead to bowel gangrene or even death without immediate treatment.
Made by Bharat Biotec, Rotovac, the study says has a 1.6-fold increased risk of intussusception among vaccinated infants – a fact that was not previously detected in initial analyses.
The study, co-authored by Jacob Puliyel, MD of the International Institute of Health Management Research, India, and Brian Hooker of Children's Health Defense, has emphasized the need for parents to be informed about this risk due to the vaccine's potential to mimic dysentery symptoms.
Bharat Biotech dismisses the study
Responding to the revelations, media reports said Bharat Biotech has dismissed the study, stating the vaccine is safe for kids. The company also referred to previous studies saying that there was no risk of intussusception beyond the background level in vaccinated infants.
What is rotavirus?
According to experts, rotavirus is a highly contagious gastrointestinal infection that causes inflammation of the stomach and leads to life-threatening diarrhoea, vomiting, and nausea among young children and infants. Doctors say the virus usually spreads during the winter and spring seasons, when in contact with the stool of someone who has it and then touches their mouth.
To prevent dehydration, make sure to get the child to drink lots of water and liquids as there is no other medicine available for rotavirus.
According to statistics, in India, rotavirus causes an estimated 11.37 million episodes of acute gastroenteritis in children below five years, annually.
Signs and symptoms
The most common rotavirus symptoms of rotavirus include:
Severe, watery diarrhoea
Vomiting
Fever
Loss of appetite
Not peeing as frequently
Cool, dry skin
Dizziness
Dry mouth and throat
Few or no tears when crying
Lethargy - sleeping more and playing less or acting unusually fussy
Sunken eyes or a sunken soft spot on the top of the head Why is dehydration serious for babies?
Dehydration means your child does not have enough water and salts for their organs to function properly. Doctors say dehydrated children need IV fluids to rehydrate and so if their dehydration gets severe, a child could start convulsing or go into shock. It is even life-threatening.
How to prevent rotavirus ?
A few best ways to prevent rotavirus and protect the health of your kids is by making sure they get the rotavirus vaccines. According to doctors, around 70 per cent of children who receive the vaccine do not get rotavirus. For those who still get infected, the symptoms are much milder. And so, more than 90 per cent of vaccinated children either get protected from severe rotavirus or avoid the disease altogether.
