Gastroenteritis and the Indian Sub-Continent: Need for diarrhea-defying vaccines

Vaccination in acute childhood viral gastroenteritis

Acute viral gastroenteritis is, after respiratory tract infections, the second most common cause of childhood morbidity, hospitalizations and deaths. Amidst a large number of enteric viruses, rotavirus (RV) and norovirus (NV) have been presently recognized as the most important. RV is considered a single, major cause of severe acute diarrhea and the greatest cause of diarrhea-related deaths among children, whereas NV is a major cause of outbreaks, including those in medical facilities. Since improvements in sanitation and hygiene standards have demonstrated little impact on morbidity rate, vaccination early in life appears to be an effective tool to prevent this common disease. Currently, two efficacious oral vaccines are available in several countries in the world. The key challenge is their relatively high price, particularly for the poorest nations, where the need for routine vaccination is of great importance.