Comparative analysis of clinical and laboratory characteristics of measles in vaccinated and unvaccinated children in the Poltava region (Ukraine)

Abstract

The aim: To study the clinical and laboratory characteristics of measles, as well as to compare the course of this disease in vaccinated and unvaccinated children in the Poltava region (Ukraine). Materials and methods: 104 inpatients with measles were examined: vaccinated (n=27) and unvaccinated (n=77). The patient examination program included: assessment of complaints and anamnestic data obtained by questioning (during admission to hospital treatment, during treatment and after discharge) and detailed analysis of medical records (Form № 003/у), physical examination, general clinical study of peripheral blood. Statistical processing of the study results was carried out by methods of variation statistics using the program «SPSS 17.0». Results: The clinical and laboratory picture of measles in the examined patients is typical for this disease. Measles vaccinated children are significantly less likely to have fever (р=0.001) and Koplik’s spots (χ2 =3.80, р=0.051), the duration of fever (р=0.001), cough (р=0.000), and the length of hospital stay (р=0.000), as well as 3.0 times less often leukopenia is detected (р=0.043) and 2.0 times less often − acceleration of ESR (р=0.023). Conclusions: The obtained data raise the question of expanding the explanatory work on the importance of a full course of preventive vaccination among children, as well as increasing the volume of public procurement of necessary drugs to increase public access to free vaccination.