Introduction:
Measles is an acute, highly communicable viral disease. Measles outbreaks usually occur in settings where there are unvaccinated populations. Measles vaccination at 12 and 18 months is routine in Libya; however, coverage seldom reached >95% predisposing to measles outbreaks. We describe the epidemiology of hospitalized measles cases at pediatric hospital in Benghazi over 1 year.
Materials and methods:
All measles pediatric patients admitted to infectious department at Benghazi pediatric hospital during the period from June 2013 to May 2014 were studied. Epidemiological data including age, sex, immunization state, exposures place and time as well as complications was recorded. Laboratory tests including serological diagnostic methods were done.
Results:
IA total of 367 measles-associated hospitalizations were studied, of these 83% was children aged less than 1 year, 17% was older than 1year but were unvaccinated, 33% was nosocomial cases and 65% was during winter months. Diarrhea was the most common complication (65%), followed by stomatitis (53%), pneumonia (35%), otitis media (20%) and encephalitis (0.8%). Deaths were reported in 3 cases (0.8%).
Conclusion:
Unvaccinated children whether they were less than 1 year and not eligible for measles vaccine or they were not receive their routine vaccines were the victims of measles associated hospitalizations during the measles outbreak in Benghazi, 2013-2014.
Efforts to maintain high routine measles vaccination coverage at 9 and 18 months should be emphasized.
Keywords: Children, Measles hospitalizations, Benghazi, Libya