Vaccine Stomps out Stomach Illness in Kids

The widespread use of a vaccine against a germ that causes gastrointestinal illness in infants an...  More »

The widespread use of a vaccine against a germ that causes gastrointestinal illness in infants and young children may have proved its worth. I'm Erin White with your latest health news. A new study from the CDC found that -- since the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine -- US children's hospitalizations for gastroenteritis have dropped significantly. The CDC estimates that rotavirus causes between 55,000 to 70,000 hospitalizations, and between 20 to 60 deaths in US children under the age 5 each year. Acute gastroenteritis (also known as the stomach flu) is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract involving both the stomach and small intestine. It can result in diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal cramps. Consult with your child's pediatrician about vaccinations.  « Less