Clinical and epidemiological features of measles in children hospitalized during two outbreaks (2005–2006 and 2017–2018) in Ukraine

Abstract

Aim. The purpose of this study was to find out the clinical and epidemiological features of measles in children during the outbreak of 2017–2018. Materials and methods . A retrospective study of 230 case histories of children suffering from measles hospitalized in the Kyiv Children's Clinical Hospital was conducted during two epidemic outbreaks in 2005–2006 and 2017–2018. Results . In 2017–2018, the majority of hospitalized children with measles (62.9 %) were school age children. Compared to 2006, the mean age of patients has increased significantly, the proportion of children in the first year of life has significantly decreased and the percentage of children of primary school age (6 to 11 years old) has increased. Compared to 2005–2006, an increase in the duration of fever (from 6.60 to 7.26), shortening of prodromal period (from 3.68 to 2.96) and prolongation of rash period (from 4.97 to 5.88) are characteristic of the course of measles in 2017–2018. Leukopenia was observed in almost every fifth patient. In 14.3 % of patients in 2017–2018, the course of the disease was complicated (the vast majority was associated with respiratory tract organs). Compared to 2005-2006, the structure of patients with measles in 2017–2018 had the proportion of vaccinated patients decreased and, respectively, the percentage of unvaccinated individuals increased: the proportion of unvaccinated patients was 72.1 %; unknown vaccination status – 2.9 %. Approximately 10.0 % of children had only one administration of a measles vaccine. Conclusions . During the current outbreak, school age children and adolescents prevail in the age structure of ill children hospitalized with measles. Compared to 2005–2006, an increase in the duration of fever, shortening of prodromal period and prolongation of rash period are characteristic of the course of measles in 2017–2018. Changes in the clinical and epidemiological features of the disease may be associated with changes in the spectrum of circulating strains of measles virus.