Life-threatening systemic rotavirus infection after vaccination in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)

Rotavirus (RV) infections are the major cause of severe gastroenteritis in children under five years of age, causing 215,000 deaths per year worldwide mainly due to dehydration in countries with weak economic resources (1). In the immunocompetent host RV infections are self-limiting and mortality is low in high-income countries. Notifications of RV cases have declined from 49,000 in season 2012/2013 to 25,000 in season 2015/2016 (2) since RV vaccination has been recommended by the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) in Germany in 2013. The recommendation was based on systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies showing efficacy and safety of RV vaccination (3). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.