Abstract

CARRIZO, Juan  and  CASTILLO DE FEBRES, Olga. Rotavirus. Arch Venez Puer Ped [online]. 2011, vol.74, n.4, pp.163-168. ISSN 0004-0649.

Infection by rotavirus is responsible for 125 million cases, 500,000 annual deaths and 40% of hospitalizations for diarrhea in children under 5 years of age. In developing countries the rate of infection is higher in the group of 3 to 11 months of age, which present a higher lethality, product of undernourishment and difficulties to accede opportunely to health services. During the first year of life, 65 to 80% of children have developed antibodies against rotavirus and 95% will achieve this by the age of two. At the moment two vaccines against rotavirus are available, and have demonstrated to be safe, effective and with very low association with intestinal invagination. In Venezuela, the monovalent-human vaccine was introduced in the Extended Program of Immunizations in April of 2006. A previous study showed that the massive administration of two doses of this vaccine against rotavirus is highly cost-effective. Four years later, a national study showed a reduction of mortality rate of 50% in children under 5 years of age, 55% reduction in those less than one year and 44% reduction in the group of 1-4 years of age. Nevertheless the follow up of this program indicates that immunization coverage against rotavirus in Venezuela continues to be low.

Keywords : Vaccines anti rotavirus; diarrhoea by rotavirus; impact of the vaccine anti-rotavirus.