Vaccinate infants against AGE, docs tell parents

KUALA LUMPUR: Parents should get their infants vaccinated as a preventive measure against acute gastroenteritis (AGE).

Consultant paediatrician at Pantai Hospital Dr Chai Pei Fan saidtwovaccines currently available in the market, had been found to be highly effective and safe in the prevention of rotavirus infection in infants.

“Other prevention methods include breast-feeding and practising hygiene at home at all times.

“However, this is not always effective as some disinfectants and mild soaps cannot eliminate the virus,” he said yesterday.

In a joint letter to The Star, president of College of Paediatrics in the Malaysian Academy of Medicine Professor Dr Lee Way Seah and president-elect of Asia Pacific Paediatric Association Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail said personal hygiene alone might not be enough to prevent the transmission of the rotavirus because of its highly infectious nature.

They said the rotavirus, which is the leading cause of diarrhoea-related illnesses and deaths among children below the age of five, could survive for days on dry surfaces and for hours on human hands.

“It spreads by contact with infected faeces and contaminated food, water and respiratory droplets,” they added.

They urged the Government to consider including the vaccine in the national immunisation programme.

Despite recommendations by the World Health Organisation that the vaccine be included in all national immunisation programmes, it is only available for sale at between RM200 and RM300.

In Ipoh, the rotavirus outbreak in Hilir Perak and Batang Padang districts is showing signs of slowing down with fewer cases being reported.

State Health Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said seven people were admitted to hospitals, while six had been discharged.

“A total of 14 patients remain warded. There were no confirmed cases of rotavirus infection,” he said yesterday.

Dr Mah said all patients were stable and responding to symptomatic treatment.