Rota virus jabs

[SJL]

Does anyone know if you can getthe rotavirus jab late?

A friend of mine has a 6yr old who suffers from rota virus on a regular basis (3 times this year) her doctor said it has to be given at 2,4 and 6months and if you miss out you build up your own defenses to it but her little boy hasn't.
Should she persist with other docs or just hope her boy builds a resistance?

[Trillian]

As far as I know the Rotarix vaccine isn't a needle, it's a serum vaccination that they swallow. If the Dr say's that it can't be given, then i guess it can't but there are other ways to help build his gut immunity so he has a better chance of fighting these bugs when he gets them by making sure he has a good diet and also taking some probiotics to replace all the good bacteria in the gut that are depleated during a gastro illness.

[ShootingStar]

Trillian is right.. the Rotavirus they give to babies at 2, 4 & 6 months is an oral dose.
But i would like to know if it can be given to older kids too.. DS had a really BAD case of gastro a few months ago.. i would hate for him to continue to have these..

ETA.. i just found this on the net:
Giving the vaccine to older children (‘catch-up’ vaccination) is not recommended because the safety and effectiveness of the oral rotavirus vaccine have not been confirmed in older children.

[*Belle*]

I was told no last week, Julia's daycare had the Rotavirus and she is 2 1/2 nearly and the GP said she cannot give up after 6 month old.

[Schmickers]

Rotavirus is an infection that generally only happens once, and then the body builds up an immunity to the infection. For your friend's child, I would be concerned that it isn't rotavirus, and that it may be some other sort of infection - something like clostridium, which can be very difficult to treat and cause recurrent gastro infections.

The rotavirus vaccination won't be offered to children over 6 months of age because the rotavirus infection is not as dangerous after this age.

I'd be considering looking for other causes for his symptoms.

[Visitor9]

DD had confirmed rota-virus when she was 18months old, this hospitalised her twice in a month for 3 weeks in total being NGT and IV'd. We were told by the paed to get her to have the serum after 12 months as if she was to be exposed after 12 months she had no immunity. So we had her serumed at 2.5 ...3 doses . She has been admitted this year for Rota virus thankfully this was just a weeks admittance, I think there is so many differing strains they cant keep up with it.

[ShootingStar]

Oh really Schmickers.. is there a way to know the difference between Rotavirus and general (if it is general) gastro? My DS had it really bad a few months back. Was vomitting for a few days, diarrohea for over a week, was very dehydrated (skin was very scaley), lathargic, fever, etc.

[kelebek]

I thought a reason they give them the vaccination before 12 months & not after is because if they get the virus in the first 12 mnths they can get sick but can also die but after that they will get sick but not die from it so there is no 'need' for the vaccination. I am happy to be corrected.

[Visitor9]

A stool sample is the only way they can accuratley determine whether your child has gastro or rota virus. DD presented to the emergency department being a cat 3 , she was lifeless dropped from 9 kilos to 5 in 2 days and was unresponsive. This was just the vomiting side of rotavirus. DD was unable to re-hydriate so consequently without being NGT'd or IV's she would of been in alot of trouble. Any child that can not tolerate fluids over a period of time is at risk

[~Saram~]

There are a lot of virus' and bacteria that can cause vomitting and diahorrea and the viruses alter there make up often which is why you can "re-catch it" Rotavirus is a very potent virus that can make young children very ill, more than your average tummy bug.

To prevent getting tummy bugs
1. make sure you are safe from food poisoning - keep cold food cold and hot food hot, be wary of undercooked chicken and eggs (salmonella) and also cream in bakery and deli products as well.

2. good personal hygine after using the toilet

3. make sure you have a good intestinal flora. If you have been on antibiotics, medications or have had a tummy virus try a probiotic to build up the good bacteria which prevents bad bacteria and viruses from being able to get a hold on you.

4. To lessen the severity of tummy bugs. Reintroduce foods slowly starting with very basic foods like clear broth and potatoes.

Also have heard that the more tummy bugs kids get the better they will resist them as adults. I obviously didn't get sick much as a kid as I get every stupid tummy bug that does the rounds. I have been using a probiotic lately and found myself to be much more resistant.

[SJL]

Thanks for all your resposes.
This little guy has had it confirmed in hospital that is was rota virus and according to the hospital kids with peg feeds are more suseptable to catching it if exposed. He has spent 4 1/2 weeks total in hospital on IV gastrolyte for rota and then additional 1-2weeks each time getting sezuires under control once the rota bug was cleared.

Since there is different views/experiences with different doc's I will tell her to talk to his pead about getting the serum or not if they don't think it will work for him.

Thanks

[Liz]

I'm a bit confused why someone would want a vaccine if they've already had the disease? Would be like having the chickenpox jab after having chickenpox.

SJL - what's peg feeds?

[SJL]

Most kids build up an immunity to it by the time they are 3-5 yrs old (based on what his mum was told and information sheet from the doc) younger children can suffer from the bug multiple times until their body build up an immunity to it (which the serum is meant to do). But his body hasn't developed an immunity to it. So far he has had it 3 times this year.

Liz: Peg feeds are when children with special needs or swollowing disorders etc are given liquid meals through a tube in thier stomach.

Mt friend has an appointment with her sons pead to discuss if it will be benificial for him or not.

Thanks for all of your comments

[Schmickers]

Oh really Schmickers.. is there a way to know the difference between Rotavirus and general (if it is general) gastro? My DS had it really bad a few months back. Was vomitting for a few days, diarrohea for over a week, was very dehydrated (skin was very scaley), lathargic, fever, etc.

Well, rotavirus is just a type of gastro, along with the many other viruses and bacteria that cause gastro. Rotavirus has a specific smell, but that would be pretty hard to describe... Any gastro, if it gets a little one dehydrated, is dangerous.

WRT people getting rotavirus multiple times, if the child in question has some sort of immunosuppression that is preventing them mounting an adequate response to the rotavirus infection, then that might account for the repeated infections with the virus - if the child in question has a PEG tube and seizures, then I am guessing they have some sort of serious medical condition that might contribute to their susceptibility to the virus and their inability to properly seroconvert.

Having said that, it is possible that they will simply fail to mount an adequate response to the vaccine, as well - immunity occurs by the same mechanism, either with the vaccine or the germ itself. For that reason, I think that they may not be happy to offer the rotavirus immunisation late or in multiple doses, but that would be up to you to discuss with your paediatrician.

And finally, one of the things to remember with rota in babies under 6 months of age is that, in the absence of being able to move around by themselves, to get rotavirus they must be exposed to the germ somehow. Basic hand hygeine is the best defence against rotavirus, especially in babies.