Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 4, 2026

Orthotopic Implantation and Peripheral Immune Cell Monitoring in the II-45 Syngeneic Rat Mesothelioma Model
09:31

Orthotopic Implantation and Peripheral Immune Cell Monitoring in the II-45 Syngeneic Rat Mesothelioma Model

Published on: October 2, 2015

Measles in children who have malignant disease

J Kernahan, J McQuillin, A W Craft

    British Medical Journal (Clinical Research Ed.)
    |July 4, 1987
    PubMed

    Insights

    Measles in children with cancer can be fatal, especially with severe pneumonitis. Early signs like rash and Koplik

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric Oncology
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Virology

    Background:

    • Measles poses a significant risk to immunocompromised children, particularly those undergoing treatment for malignant diseases.
    • Understanding the clinical course and outcomes of measles in this vulnerable population is crucial for improving patient management.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To review the clinical presentation, complications, and outcomes of measles in children with malignant diseases.
    • To identify factors associated with favorable and unfavorable outcomes in this patient group.

    Main Methods:

    • Retrospective review of 17 cases of measles diagnosed in children with malignant disease between 1973 and 1986.
    • Analysis of clinical data, including symptoms, complications, treatment modalities, and mortality.
    • Correlation of clinical findings with laboratory markers, such as serum antibody response and viral detection in nasopharyngeal secretions.

    Main Results:

    • Five out of 17 cases were fatal, with severe pneumonitis requiring assisted ventilation being invariably fatal.
    • Typical measles rash and Koplik's spots, along with a detectable serum antibody response and clearance of measles giant cells, were associated with a favorable outcome.
    • Pneumonitis and encephalitis were the primary complications.
    • Treatments including immunoglobulin, interferon, and ribavirin showed no clear efficacy.

    Conclusions:

    • Measles in children with cancer has a high mortality rate, particularly when complicated by severe pneumonitis.
    • Early detection of measles, potentially facilitated by sensitive diagnostic techniques like the fluorescent antibody technique, may contribute to identifying less severe cases and improving survival rates.
    • Further research is needed to establish effective treatments for measles in immunocompromised pediatric patients.

    More Related Videos

    Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo12:42

    Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo

    Published on: January 7, 2019

    Separation of Immune Cell Subpopulations in Peripheral Blood Samples from Children with Infectious Mononucleosis08:44

    Separation of Immune Cell Subpopulations in Peripheral Blood Samples from Children with Infectious Mononucleosis

    Published on: September 7, 2022

    Related Concept Videos

    Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer01:03

    Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer

    Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
    RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand  RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
    Pulmonary Tuberculosis I01:29

    Pulmonary Tuberculosis I

    Tuberculosis, often called TB, is a contagious illness primarily caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mainly affects the lung parenchyma but can also impact other body parts.
    Causative Organism
    The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
    Mode of...
    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,...
    Cytomegalovirus Disease01:27

    Cytomegalovirus Disease

    Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...
    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...