FREQUENCY OF COMPLICATIONS IN MEASLES PATIENTS AT PESHAWAR

Abstract

Background: Measles is acute highly contagious viral disease with potential to cause serious complications especially in malnourished children. Although safe and effective vaccine is available for its prevention, measles still cause epidemics in different parts of world particularly in developing countries. This study was undertaken to find the frequency of different complications among children admitted with measles. Material & Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in Measles Ward of Sifwat Ghayoor Memorial Government Children Hospital, Peshawar from December 2015 to February 2016. One hundred cases were enrolled through consecutive non-probability sampling technique. Study variables included age, gender, weight, area of residence, mothers education, family income, family type, duration of stay in hospital, disease outcome, vaccination status against measles, contact history and complications. Data was collected on proforma and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Results: Among 100 patients, 57 were males and 43 females. Most 68 (68%) patients belonged to poor socio- economic background with monthly family income below 10,000 PKR. The majority 77 (77%) of mothers of patients were uneducated while only 18 (18%) had primary education. Pneumonia was the major complication accounting for 68% followed by diarrhea 31% and conjunctivitis in 21% patients. Conclusion: Pneumonia is the major complication in patients with measles followed by diarrhea. Also there is high proportion of vaccinated children who did not complete the vaccination schedule which is a matter of concern for health planners.

Keywords

• measles
• complications
• vaccination
• outbreaks.