Print
Nov 20, 2008 8:01 pm US/Eastern
Oral Vaccine Helps Prevent Stomach Flu In Babies
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
'Tis the season for stomach flu - and local health officials have been tracking an increase in the nasty bugs since last month.
At Children's Hospital, Tracia Bronaugh of Ambridge has been a worried mom for the past few days.
"As a new parent, I was just frantic about it," she says. Her son, 2-month-old Tratel is about as miserable as a kid can be. "He just been throwing up - It started off with diarrhea and then now his fever hasn't been down."
Cranky and not eating - it's likely that little Tratel has "stomach flu."
Dr. Mike Decker, a pediatrician at Children's Hospital says stomach flu is spread from person to person, "People changing a diaper and not necessarily washing their hands - little ones touching toys as daycare or preschool."
But a relatively new oral vaccine called "Rototeq" is actually cutting the number of stomach flu cases among children under the age of 8-months. It can be given to babies at their regular 2, 4 and 6 month doctor visits.
"Rototeq is a vaccine that's designed to protect aganist Rotoviurus," says Dr. Decker, "And Rotovirus is the most common viral cause of what a lot call the flu."
Most adult stomach flu is caused by the Norovirus - and there are no vaccines for that - you just have to ride it out and be careful not to become dehydrated.
Also know that these viruses are highly contagious.
According to Guillermo Cole of the Allegheny County Health Dept, "This virus will survive for weeks at room temperature on surfaces and objects in the environment."
You can even pass it on for 2-weeks after you recover. But three words are the best defense against stomach flu – wash your hands.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Featured Slideshows On KDKA.com
