The HAS (Haute Autorité de Santé) recommends vaccinating infants against gastroenteritis.
- The treatment of gastroenteritis is based on the administration of oral rehydration solutions.
- The main symptoms observed are fever, diarrhea and vomiting.
Rotaviruses are the main causes of acute winter viral gastroenteritis in infants and young children under 5 years of age, in whom they can cause complications. In the light of the latest efficacy, safety and tolerance data concerning the two vaccines available in France and to protect very young children as soon as possible, the HAS (Haute Autorité de Santé) recommends today once again to vaccinate infants from 6 weeks to 6 months against this type of infection.
Acute dehydration
Although mild in most cases, acute gastroenteritis can sometimes lead to dangerous acute dehydration and require hospitalization. In mainland France, they are responsible each winter for approximately 57,000 consultations in general medicine, 28,000 visits to the emergency room and 20,000 hospitalizations. Children under 3 are the most affected by severe forms, especially during their first year.
Recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Academy of Pediatrics and the European Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases, vaccination against rotavirus infections is practiced in 127 countries worldwide. “Introduced in France in the vaccination calendar in 2013 by the High Council of Public Health, it was suspended in 2015 after the occurrence of serious adverse effects. recalls the HAS. “But the reassessment of the vaccine strategy against rotavirus being part of our work program, we conducted a reassessment of the two available vaccines and thus took into account the latest data on vaccine efficacy and tolerance”, add public health experts.
Two vaccines
Two vaccines have marketing authorization in France: Rotarix® and RotaTeq®. They are administered orally.
