The Characters of Measles Patients Admitted to Tikrit Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection and 90% of non immunized persons who come into direct contact with the virus will develop infection. A cross sectional study conducted in Tikrit Teaching Hospital to highlight the Outbreak of measles and its effect on patient’s health during period of 3 months from 1st of January 2008 to the 1st of April 2008. A total of 100 cases included in the study from different age groups and from both genders without any exclusion. The study showed that the most common affected age 54% were between 1-5 year and 4% of cases were below 6 month. Male gender 56% affected more than female gender, 44 % and 91% of cases have history of contact with infected persons . In the present study 17% of cases have history of vaccination with measles , 13% have history of vaccination with Measles, Mumps, Rubella ( MMR) and only 9% have history of vaccination with both. Nutritional assessment done for every cases and it shows that 51% of them have normal nutritional state, 35% have mild malnutrition, 12% have moderate malnutrition, and 2% of cases have severe malnutrition. The relation between nutritional state and development of complications were not significant in this study except that which is related to otitis media (O.M). The study showed that 3% developed central nervous system complications, 30% developed O.M, 48% of cases developed gastrointestinal tract (GIT) complications and that all the cases have respiratory tract complications which was the main cause of admission to the hospital.