Rotavirus (RV) is the most common cause of severe acute gastroenteritis in children in developing as well as in industrialized nations. Annually more than 25 million outpatient visits and 2 million hospitalizations are attributable to RV infection in subjects less than 5 years of age. In developing nations about 600000 deaths are caused by RV each year. RV infection is responsible for 21-58% of hospital admission for acute gastroenteritis in Europe. Recently 2 new live orally administered vaccines - Rotarix and RotaTeq - that provide wide protection against RV infections have been developed. These 2 vaccines have recently undergone extensive testing for safety and efficacy. Indeed 2 recent large clinical trials have demonstrated their excellent efficacy and safety including absence of vaccine-associated intussusception in young infants. (excerpt)