Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Measles is a highly communicable disease caused by the measles virus. The disease is
marked by prodromal fever, conj unctivitis, coryza, cough, and the pathognomonic koplik
spots followed by an erythematous maculopapular rash. Infection confers lifelong immunity.
OBJECTIVE:
Find out the frequency of measles in the hospital admitted cases in chi l dr en ≤ 12
year s accor di ng t o t he vaccination and nutritional status,The causes of non-vaccination and
the vaccine efficiency in preventing measles.The incidence of measles in the exclusively breast
fed infants.The presenting signs and symptoms, commonest complications, investigations and the
outcome.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
A prospective study was performed from the 1
st
of January to the 1
known as rubeola and is marked by prodromal
fever, conjunctivitis, coryza, cough, and
pathognomonic Koplik spots, followed by an
erythematous maculopapular rash on the 3rd to 7
day. Infection confers life-long immunity.


st
of May in the year 2009, in
Al-Kadhimiyia Teaching Hospital.The data was collected through a questionnaire asked
directly to the parents, and all the patients were systemically examined and followed up clinically
until they discharged home or unfortunately died.The collected data was analyzed and adjusted
using the SPSS version 10 statistical programs.
RESULTS:
The incidence of measles was (44.29 %).Most of cases were living in crowded houses, all
patients had positive history of contact, mostly during a visit to a medical health facility (49.3
%).All age groups were affected by measles, mostly in the 1
st
(27 %) and the
nd (19 %) years
of life.Higher incidence was reported in males (53.5 %).Most of the cases were nonvaccinated

(86.25 %) with non-vaccinated mothers as well (85.25 %). Nineteen percent of
the cases were malnourished. The incidence was lowest in the exclusively breast fed infants (1.5
%).
Measles mostly presented with fever for ≥ 3 days (100 %), rash (100 %) and conjunctivitis
(98.25 %).The commonest complications were pneumonia (62.75 %), diarrhea (40.25 %).
The majority of patients who had developed convulsions had normal CSF analysis results (76.7
%). CXR reported pneumonic consolidation in (62.75 %) of the patients. Ninety percent of cases
were discharged home and (10 %) died.
CONCLUSION:
Measles is higher in the crowded places, in infants and toddlers, in males, in the nonvaccinated,

and less in the exclusively breast fed infants. It is more severe in the
malnourished patients. Vaccination is the most important preventive measure against measles.
Measles mostly present with fever, maculopapular rash, and conjunctivitis, with the most
common complications are pneumonia, diarrhea, and encephalitis.
The disease usually has no or little effect on the blood counts and CSF analyses, and CXR
document pneumonic consolidation in the majority of cases.
Measles is still a serious disease with high fatality rat