Measles mortality and ethnic groups.
Measles is a relatively unusual disease in that the fatality rate is very low in modern Western populations, while in 'virgin soil'--isolated populations of other races or ethnic groups--mortality rates may exceed 25%. Possible explanations for this difference are examined, including genetics, culture, epidemiology and malnutrition. All four factors, especially differences in nutritional state and in culture, might have a significant effect in increasing mortality rates for measles in Black Africans. The cultural milieu can be exceedingly influential and must not be overlooked by doctors treating Black patients.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003906:Developing Countries; D005006:Ethnicity; D005367:Fiji; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000235:genetics / Q000266:history / Q000401:mortality*; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D013019:South Africa