Related Experiment Videos

Measles in children younger than 9 months in Pakistan

Ali Faisal Saleem1, Anita Zaidi, Adnan Ahmed

  • 1Department of Maternal and Child Health, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. ali.saleem@aku.edu

Indian Pediatrics
|August 13, 2009
PubMed

Insights

In Pakistan, infants under 9 months with measles experienced more severe symptoms like malnutrition and anemia. However, older children over 9 months accounted for all measles-related deaths in the study.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Pakistan faces a significant global burden of measles and associated mortality.
  • Measles poses a particular risk to vulnerable populations, including young infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the clinical presentation and outcomes of measles in infants younger than 9 months versus those older than 9 months.
  • To identify risk factors and clinical differences in measles cases among hospitalized children in Pakistan.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients admitted with measles to a tertiary care hospital.
  • Comparison of clinical characteristics and outcomes between two age groups: <9 months (Group A) and >9 months (Group B).

Main Results:

  • Infants under 9 months (Group A) showed higher rates of severe malnutrition, anemia, leukocytosis, and conjunctivitis.
  • Despite a higher incidence of severe symptoms, all four recorded measles-related deaths occurred in the older age group (>9 months, Group B).

Conclusions:

  • Younger infants (<9 months) present with more severe clinical manifestations of measles.
  • While younger infants experience more complications, older children (>9 months) were more likely to die from measles in this cohort, highlighting the need for targeted interventions across different age groups.

Related Concept Videos

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever01:26

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.
Chickenpox01:20

Chickenpox

Chickenpox is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family. Its transmission occurs primarily through the inhalation of respiratory droplets or direct contact with vesicular fluid from skin lesions. The incubation period typically ranges from 10 to 21 days, during which the virus replicates and disseminates through sequential phases within the host. Although generally self-limiting in children,...
Poliomyelitis01:17

Poliomyelitis

Poliomyelitis is caused by poliovirus, a small, non-enveloped, positive-sense RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family and Enterovirus genus. Transmission occurs primarily via the fecal-oral route, often through ingestion of contaminated water or food. The virus initially replicates in the oropharynx and intestinal mucosa, particularly in lymphoid tissues such as the tonsils, Peyer’s patches, and regional lymph nodes. Primary viremia follows, allowing dissemination throughout the body.In most...
Smallpox01:24

Smallpox

Smallpox is a severe contagious disease caused by the Variola major virus, a double-stranded DNA member of the Poxviridae family.Variola major transmission occurs primarily via inhalation of virus-laden droplets or direct contact with infectious scabs. The incubation period averages approximately seven days, although it may range from 7 to 17 days depending on the inoculum and host factors.Clinically, the prodromal phase is marked by an abrupt onset of high fever, malaise, headache, and myalgia.
Vaccinations01:51

Vaccinations

Overview