Mohammad Hussain, Liaqat Ali, Jehangir Khan.
Clinical outcome of Measles in hospitalized children and associated risk factors for developing complications.
Pak Paed J Jan ;32(1):3-10.

Objective: To determine the clinical outcome of the hospitalized complicated measles. To verify the associated risk factors for developing complications / mortality. Design: A cross sectional, observational study. Place and duration of study: Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar. 1st October 2005 to 31st May 2006 Patients and Methods: Six months to 13 years old hospitalized children of both sexes presenting with measles and complications were included in the study. A total of 331 patients were enrolled during October 2005 to May 2006. Detailed history including demographic profiles and physical examination of all the admitted measles patients were filled in the case report form. Data was analyzed by using SPSS. The clinical outcome of measles patients was compared with demographic profile and complications observed. Results: Three hundreds and thirty one hospitalized measles patients were studied. There were 56.2% males. The age ranged between 6 months and 13 years. For the sake of analysis the patients were divided into four different age groups. The assessment of vaccination status revealed 43.50% children as unvaccinated. Malnourished patients were 41.1%. Pneumonia (38.97%) and diarrhoea (36.85%) were the commonest complications. Thirty eight children died. Mortality was significantly associated with young age, and presence of encephalitis. Conclusions: Measles still remains as one of the commonest viral, vaccine preventable illness of children. The most common complications of measles are pneumonia and diarrhea with dehydration requiring hospitalization. Malnourished children experience more severe measles and have longer hospital stay. Mortality in measles is significantly associated with younger age, non-vaccinated status and having encephalitis.

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