Definition of RV (rotavirus)
RV (rotavirus):Aside from recreational vehicle, RV is
an abbreviation for rotavirus, a leading cause of severe winter
diarrhea in young children.
Each year RV causes an estimated 500,000 doctor visits and 50,000
hospital admissions in the United
States. Almost every child catches RV before entering school but,
with rehydration (and good nutrition),
nearly all recover fully. However, in poor countries RV is estimated
to be responsible for at least 600,000 deaths of
children under 5 years from RV diarrhea and dehydration yearly.
Aside from causing acute infantile gastroenteritis and diarrhea in
young children, RV infection is typically accompanied by low-grade
fever.
A vaccine against RV has been found to provide a high level of
protection against severe diarrhea caused RV. A report to this effect
appeared in The New England Journal of Medicine (vol. 337, pp. 1181-7,
1997).
The RV vaccine was licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) in August, 1998. However, in July of 1999 the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) jointly recommended that rotavirus
vaccination be postponed until November, 1999. This recommendation
was made as a precaution because of some reports of intussception
(telescoping and blockage of the intestine) in infants who had had
rotavirus vaccination.
Rotavirus was discovered in 1973 and took its name from its wheel-
like appearance (rota means wheel in Latin).
Last Editorial Review: 9/21/1999
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