title: Measles is still a severe problem in Eastern Turkey.
abstract: In this study, we reviewed the demographic and clinical findings of 143 children with measles to draw attention the importance of measles and its complications in Eastern Turkey. Of 143 patients, 75 (52.5%) were boys, 68 (47.5%) were girls. The patients' age ranged from 5 months to 13 years (3.97 +/- 3.11 years). The peak of admissions (37%) occurred in the age range five to 24 months. The majority of the cases (84.7%) were not immunized against measles. Of 143 cases, 104 (72.7%) cases were malnourished. Of 143 children, 57 (40%) children had one or more complication of measles and the most common complication was pneumonia. Two (1.3%) children died. In conclusion, our findings showed that measles and its complications were severe problem in our country. We think that it is primarily related to very low socioeconomic status of our region.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Yüzüncü Yil University, Van, Turkey. huseyincaksen@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Hüseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Caksen
authors.forename: Dursun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Odabaş
authors.forename: Doğan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Köse
authors.forename: Sakir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sar
authors.forename: Oğuz
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tuncer
authors.forename: Bülent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ataş
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology