A ten-year study of measles admissions in a Nigerian teaching hospital.
BACKGROUND
Measles remains a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in Nigeria despite the availability of safe and effective vaccines. The last report on measles from our center was about 15 years ago. A review of the current status is necessary in order to strengthen interventional strategies.


OBJECTIVE
To study the burden and epidemiological correlates of measles admissions in a Nigerian teaching hospital.


METHODS
Retrospective.


METHODS
Children admitted with measles infection and/or complications.


METHODS
A review of medical records of measles admissions over the 10-year period, May 1994 and April 2004.


RESULTS
One hundred and sixty four children (6.1% of paediatric admissions) aged 4 months to 12 years (28.4 + 28.82 months) were admitted with measles. Sixty-three infants (< or = 12 months old) accounted for 39.4% of patients with about half of them younger than nine months. History of vaccination against measles was obtained in 43 (29.5%) subjects. Forty- eight (32.9%) children were underweight weighing between 60-80% of the expected weight for age and six (4.1%) of them were marasmic weighing below 60% of expected weight for age. None of the patients had oedema. The commonest complication was bronchopneumonia (55.5%). Major complications were less commonly associated with children who weighed more than 80% of expected weight (p = 0.011). The case fatality rate was 7.5 % accounting for 0.4% of childhood mortality. Children without prior measles vaccination, those of low socio-economic status and those weighing less than 80% of expected for age all had significantly higher mortality rates. (p< 0.05 in each case).


CONCLUSIONS
Measles incidence has risen in the last ten years in Sagamu and its environs but it is still largely a disease of young children. Therefore routine immunization and disease surveillance should be strengthened. Supplemental immunization activities should also be considered.
Fetuga
M B
MB
Department ofPaediatrics, Obafemi Awolowo College of Health Sciences, Sagamu, Nigeria. bolanlefetuga2000@yahoo.com
Jokanma
O F N
OF
Ogunfowora
O B
OB
Abiodun
Runsewe
R
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors