Congenital measles: A case highlighting challenges in clinical interventions in a developing country

We report a case of congenital measles, highlighting the challenges in clinical management in a developing country setting.

We reviewed and report clinical, laboratory management, and the outcome of a case of congenital measles.

The male infant was born at 32 weeks and 2 days to a young mother with no history of anti-measles vaccination. At birth, the infant was eutrophic. At hour 15 of life, he developed respiratory distress, hypotonia, hypoglycemia, moderate tachycardia, and had a normal skin examination. On day 4, he developed a fever (39.1°C), a macular rash, and hemorrhagic syndrome. Measles infection was confirmed in mother and child couple by PCR. The infant's condition deteriorated without access to anti-measles intravenous immunoglobulin prophylaxis treatment, and he died on day 7 from septic shock with multiple organ failure.

Measles control not only imposes the prevention of congenital measles by vaccinating women of childbearing age but also requires appropriate drug provisions and rapid diagnostic tools provision at the facilities level.