MEASLES COMPLICATIONS IN MALNOURISHED CHILDREN

ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the frequency of common complications of measles in malnourished children.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar
from January 2014 to April 2015. Through a Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study Design, a total of 110 cases of measles
with malnutrition were selected in OPD and observations were recorded on follow up.
Results: The mean age was 2.7 + 1.2 years of which 61% (n=67 ) were male and 39% (n =43 ) were female patients.
35.5% (n =39 ) presented in grade I, 24.5% (n =27 ) in grade II and 40% (n= 44) in grade III malnutrition. On follow up,
pneumonia was observed in 39.1%, diarrhea in 36.4%, otitis media in 10% and encephalitis in 8.1% of patients. The
most frequent complications were observed in grade II and grade III malnourished children and children of younger
age groups.
Conclusion: Measles and malnutrition are still calamity in our population as once together, the complications of each
other are more prevalent and preventive projects must be designed with full efficacy against both these conditions.
Key words: Measles, malnutrition, pneumonia, diarrhea, otitis media, encephalitis.