Measles-associated diarrhoea in the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Rangoon.
A study was conducted in the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Rangoon (Burma) to determine the magnitude of measles-associated diarrhoea morbidity and mortality in children under 6 years of age contributing to the overall diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality, and to determine the bacterial pathogens of measles-associated diarrhoea cases. Measles-associated diarrhoea cases occur most frequently in younger age groups (12-23 and 0-11 months). Although not directly comparable, their contribution to the total diarrhoeal cases (8%) was high but the proportion of measles-associated diarrhoeal deaths contributing to total diarrhoeal deaths was lower than the theoretical estimates. A low fatality rate (2%) among the measles-associated diarrhoea cases was found and this suggests a much lower rate in the community. This implies that measles-associated diarrhoeal mortality is probably not a major public health problem in Burma. Chest infection was the most common complication (32%) and was found in the majority of deaths resulting from complicated measles. A definite seasonal distribution of measles and measles-associated diarrhoea cases was found. Only 10% of the stool samples examined were positive for bacterial pathogens and all were shigellae. We found that a significant number of measles-associated diarrhoeal cases were malnourished.
Han
A M
AM
Department of Medical Research, Rangoon, Burma.
Khin
M M
MM
Aye
T
T
Hlaing
T
T
D000208:Acute Disease; D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008457:Measles / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002052:Myanmar / Q000453:epidemiology; D012621:Seasons