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Effect of measles on the nutritional status of preschool children
Insights
Measles infection in children can lead to secondary infections and vitamin A deficiency, increasing risks of malnutrition and blindness. Prompt vitamin A therapy is crucial for recovery and preventing long-term complications.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Measles is a common childhood illness with potential complications.
- Vitamin A deficiency is a significant public health concern in preschool children.
- Secondary infections and malnutrition are known risks following measles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence of secondary infections and complications in children hospitalized with measles.
- To assess the role of vitamin A deficiency in measles patients.
- To evaluate the long-term effects of measles on child health and development.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 1426 children hospitalized for measles was studied.
- A subset of 84 children was followed for 6 months post-discharge.
- Clinical observations, assessment of serum vitamin A levels, and monitoring of weight gain were performed.
Main Results:
- Approximately 23% of measles cases developed secondary infections, primarily diarrhoea and respiratory infections.
- Corneal lesions were observed in some children, associated with low serum vitamin A levels.
- Children showed clinical improvement with vitamin A therapy.
- During follow-up, children experienced frequent infections and significantly lower weight gain compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Measles significantly contributes to secondary infections and vitamin A deficiency in preschool children.
- Measles can precipitate malnutrition and increase the risk of blindness due to vitamin A deficiency.
- Vitamin A supplementation is important for managing measles complications and improving outcomes.
Abstract:
A total of 1426 children admitted to the hospital for measles were studied. Of these, 84 were followed up for a period of 6 months after they were discharged from the hospital. It was observed that about 23% of the cases developed secondary infection during the acute stage of measles. Diarrhoea and respiratory infection were the common complications. Some children developed corneal lesions during the acute stage. Serum vitamin A levels were significantly low in these children and they showed a good clinical response to vitamin A therapy. During the follow-up period the children suffered from frequent episodes of infections for nearly 6 months after the attack of measles and the weight gain was significantly lower compared to normal children. These observations suggest that measles plays a significant role in precipitation of malnutrition and blindness due to vitamin A deficiency in preschool children.