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.
Department ofPaediatrics, Obafemi Awolowo College of Health Sciences, Sagamu, Nigeria. bolanlefetuga2000@yahoo.com
M B
MB
Fetuga
O F N
OF
Jokanma
O B
OB
Ogunfowora
Runsewe
R
Abiodun
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