Neonatal Med.  2013 Nov;20(4):389-401. 10.5385/nm.2013.20.4.389.

Neonatal Rotavirus Infection

• Kim CR

• KMID: 1876424
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5385/nm.2013.20.4.389

Abstract

Rotavirus (RV) is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis and one of the most common causes of hospital infections in infants and young children worldwide. RV vaccines, administered first at 6 weeks of age, have been developed by 2 pharmaceutical companies in the United States and United Kingdom. They were approved for safety and efficacy in 2006 and were recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be included in all national immunization programs in 2009. Since then, the incidence of RV infections has been decreasing. However, RV vaccines are not indicated for newborns, and therefore, the vaccines cannot be used to protect newborns from RV infections. Neonatal RV strains are different from those in other age groups. Although neonatal RV strains primarily cause asymptomatic infections, they can also lead to serious complications such as severe diarrhea, dehydration, metabolic acidosis, necrotizing enterocolitis, and even death. Additionally, they can cause serious outbreaks in newborn nurseries, neonatal intensive care units, and postpartum care facilities. I reviewed the literature, including our own study, on neonatal RV infections to determine the characteristics of neonatal RV infection and its prevention in newborns.

Keyword

Rotavirus; Infection; Newborn

MeSH Terms

Acidosis
Asymptomatic Infections
Child
Cross Infection
Dehydration
Diarrhea
Disease Outbreaks
Enterocolitis, Necrotizing
Gastroenteritis
Great Britain
Humans
Immunization Programs
Incidence
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
Nurseries
Postnatal Care
Rotavirus Infections*
Rotavirus*
United States
Vaccines
World Health Organization
Vaccines