Defective bactericidal function of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in children with measles

Killing capacities of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and the serum opsonic activity were investigated in 15 children with measles. Seven of them had bacterial infection secondary to the measles. The mean values for killing capacities of the patients were significantly impaired when they were compared with those of the control group which consisted of 15 healthy age-matched children (p less than 0.001). These defects were found to be present during the early stages of the measles. The serum opsonic activity was found to be normal.