title: Decreased measles antibody response after measles-mumps-rubella vaccine in infants with colds.
abstract: We examined the possibility that the common cold or afebrile upper respiratory tract infection might interfere with successful immunization in children who receive standard measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Infants 15 to 18 months of age presenting at our well-child clinics for routine examination and immunizations were divided into two groups. Those infants with a history and physical findings of upper respiratory tract infection were compared with healthy control group infants who did not have upper respiratory tract infections, and who did not have a history of upper respiratory tract infection symptoms within the previous month. Both groups were studied for their serologic response to measles-mumps-rubella vaccination. Prevaccination serum samples were obtained prior to vaccine administration and postvaccination serum samples were obtained 6 to 8 weeks later. Measles antibody was measured in these serum samples by an indirect fluorescein-tagged antibody test. Ten (21%) of 47 infants with colds failed to develop measles antibody, while only one (2%) of 51 well infants failed to develop antibody. We conclude that infants with colds have a significant seroconversion failure rate associated with measles vaccine administration and that this may be the cause of some primary measles vaccine failures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Wash 98431-5295.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Krober
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Stracener
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bass
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D003139:Common Cold / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology*; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; D009107:Mumps / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009108:Mumps Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009109:Mumps virus / Q000276:immunology; D012409:Rubella / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008458:Measles Vaccine; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; D009108:Mumps Vaccine; D012411:Rubella Vaccine