The Open Virology Journal
2014, 8 : 14-19Published online 2014 December 11 . DOI: 10.2174/1874357901408010014
Publisher ID: TOVJ-8-14
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Disease Caused by Rotavirus Infection
1
Internal Medicine Chest Division, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Tainan, Taiwan
2 Department of Family Medicine, Da-Chien General Hospital, Miaoli, Taiwan
3 General Education Center, Ta Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
4 Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
5 Department of Occupational Medicine, Tainan Municipal Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
6 Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
* Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Occupational Medicine, Tainan Municipal Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan. No. 670, Chongde Road, East District, Tainan, Taiwan; Tel: +886-6-2609926; Fax: +886-6-2606351; E-mails: , kowton@ms81.hinet.net
2 Department of Family Medicine, Da-Chien General Hospital, Miaoli, Taiwan
3 General Education Center, Ta Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
4 Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
5 Department of Occupational Medicine, Tainan Municipal Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
6 Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
* Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Occupational Medicine, Tainan Municipal Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan. No. 670, Chongde Road, East District, Tainan, Taiwan; Tel: +886-6-2609926; Fax: +886-6-2606351; E-mails: , kowton@ms81.hinet.net
ABSTRACT
Although rotavirus vaccines are available, rotaviruses remain the major cause of childhood diarrheal disease worldwide. The Rotarix (GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals Rixensart, Belgium) and RotaTeq (Merck and Co., Inc. Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, USA) vaccines are effective for reducing the morbidity and mortality of rotavirus infection. This article aims to assess the epidemiology of rotaviral gastroenteritis and the efficacy and effectiveness of licensed rotavirus vaccines. This review concludes by presenting challenges in the field that require further exploration by and perspectives from basic and translational research in the future.