Abstract
Aims: To determine the frequency of measles complications and their relationship with nutritional status and vaccination status of the children.
Patients and methods: This hospital based cross- sectional analytical study was conducted in Pediatric Medical Unit, isolation ward, The Children's Hospital and The Institute of Child Health, Lahore from January 2012 to June 2012. Total 100 patients were included in the study, who were diagnosed as measles according to WHO criteria. All patients were evaluated for measles complications during hospital stay and their relationship with nutritional status and vaccination status of patients was noted and statistically analysed.
Results: Total 100 patients were studied, majority of children 47 (47%) were between 1- 4 years of age and females 58 (58%). Most of the patients 60(60%) were from urban areas and 40(40%) patients were from rural areas. Most of the patients 60(60%) were not vaccinated against measles. Regarding nutritional status, most of the patients 78 (78%) were malnourished. Pneumonia was the commonest complication 93(93%) and second common complication was diarrhea 44(44%) and otitis media 44(44%). Most of the complications were found in severely malnourished and unvaccinated measles patients. Sixteen children died and most of them 14(87.5%) were unvaccinated (p= 0.014).
Conclusion: Severe degree of malnutrition and unvaccinated status had higher incidence and severity of complications. The need for improvement in nutritional status and large coverage of measles vaccine in our country especially amongst the malnourished children is obvious.