CAIRO - Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhoea among infants, killing up to half a million children annually and leading to the hospitalisation of millions more. It is the most deadly children's disease in the developing countries, according to specialists. The Egyptian Society for Neonatal and Preterm Care (ESNPC), in collaboration with the Arabia International Society of Gastroenterology and Nutrition (ARISGN) and VACSERA Company, held a press conference in Cairo on Tuesday to stress the importance of raising awareness of the seriousness of the disease and the necessity of prevention. According to professor of pediatrics at Ain Shams University Gamal Sami, rotavirus is known as a ‘democratic' virus, which means that it hits the same number of children in both developed and developing countries. The mortality rate is 80 per cent in developing countries, due to inadequate healthcare, he added, assuring that this virus afflicts most children at least once before they reach the age of three. “Despite its prevalence and seriousness, vaccination is the only chance to rescue children from rotavirus,” explained Dr Sami, the head of the ESNPC. Professor of pediatrics at Ain Shams University Hamed el-Khayat said that rotavirus affects about 30 per cent of infants in Egypt and is very contagious. Mothers may contribute to spreading the virus among their kids, especially if they don't wash their hands after changing nappies, and also via contaminated water and food. Dr el-Khayat noted that the symptoms, which generally persist for three to nine days, include fever, vomiting and watery diarrhoea up to several times per day. Infection may lead to viscosity of the blood, causing clots in the brain and epilepsy, paralysis or blindness and other disabilities and deformities. Dr el-Khayat stressed that the World Health Organisation recommended in 2009 that every country vaccinate its children against this disease, noting that a vaccination programme is available in Egypt. He called for NGOs to provide the vaccine, especially in poor areas that are not included in the national programme. Moustafa Mohamedi, a representative from VACSERA, noted that the vaccine is up to 85 per cent successful, stressing that there are no side-effects. “The vaccine costs LE260 in Egypt,” he added.
