Rotavirus Vaccination and the Global Burden of Rotavirus Diarrhea Among Children Younger Than 5 Years
Christopher Troeger, Ibrahim A. Khalil, Puja C Rao, Shujin Cao, Brigette F. Blacker et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001
Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrhea and death in children under 5 worldwide, causing an estimated 128,500 deaths and 258 million diarrhea episodes in 2016. Rotavirus vaccination has already prevented more than 28,000 deaths globally. The burden is heaviest in sub-Saharan Africa, where most rotavirus deaths occur. Expanding vaccine use, especially in Africa, could prevent approximately one-fifth of all diarrhea-related child deaths.
Key points
Rotavirus caused an estimated 128,500 deaths among children under 5 in 2016, with 104,733 deaths in sub-Saharan Africa
Rotavirus was responsible for over 258 million episodes of diarrhea among children under 5 in 2016, at an incidence of 0.42 cases per child-year
Rotavirus vaccination has averted more than 28,000 deaths among children under 5
Expanded rotavirus vaccine use in sub-Saharan Africa could prevent approximately 20% of all diarrhea-associated deaths in children under 5
Rotavirus-associated mortality has decreased markedly over time partly due to vaccine introduction
Limitations
This is a modelling study based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 that relies on estimates in data-sparse locations, so actual country-level burden and vaccine impact may vary. The study provides global estimates but does not examine specific vaccine coverage rates, vaccine efficacy by setting, or implementation barriers in different regions.
Abstract
Importance: Rotavirus infection is the global leading cause of diarrhea-associated morbidity and mortality among children younger than 5 years. Objectives: To examine the extent of rotavirus infection among children younger than 5 years by country and the number of deaths averted because of the rotavirus vaccine. Design, Setting, and Participants: This report builds on findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016, a cross-sectional study that measured diarrheal diseases and their etiologic agents. Models were used to estimate burden in data-sparse locations. Exposure: Diarrhea due to rotavirus infection. Main Outcomes and Measures: Rotavirus-associated mortality and morbidity by country and year and averted deaths attributable to the rotavirus vaccine by country. Results: Rotavirus infection was responsible for an estimated 128 500 deaths (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 104 500-155 600) among children younger than 5 years throughout the world in 2016, with 104 733 deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa (95% UI, 83 406-128 842). Rotavirus infection was responsible for more than 258 million episodes of diarrhea among children younger than 5 years in 2016 (95% UI, 193 million to 341 million), an incidence of 0.42 cases per child-year (95% UI, 0.30-0.53). Vaccine use is estimated to have averted more than 28 000 deaths (95% UI, 14 600-46 700) among children younger than 5 years, and expanded use of the rotavirus vaccine, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, could have prevented approximately 20% of all deaths attributable to diarrhea among children younger than 5 years. Conclusions and Relevance: Rotavirus-associated mortality has decreased markedly over time in part because of the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine. This study suggests that prioritizing vaccine introduction and interventions to reduce diarrhea-associated morbidity and mortality is necessary in the continued global reduction of rotavirus infection.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
