Measles antibody levels from birth to 9 months of age in Nigerian infants.
Measles antibody (HAI) titres were measured in healthy Nigerian infants at birth and at 3, 6 and 9 months of age. At birth only one baby out of thirty-five had HAI titre of less than 1:4, but at 3 months of age titres had fallen to this level in 33% of children. The percentage increased further to 78.6% at 6 months of age. At 9 months, nine out of twenty-seven (33%) infants had HAI titre of 1:16 and above, suggesting recent measles infection or immunization. The rapid fall in HAI titres up to 6 months could explain the occurrence of measles in early age in tropical countries. We recommend that children in Nigeria be immunized at 7-8 months of age.
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008457:Measles / Q000276:immunology*; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009549:Nigeria
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D008458:Measles Vaccine