A SEROEPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF MEASLES INFECTION IN NORMAL AND HANDICAPPED PERSONS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 84  (4) , 175-178
Abstract
Serological studies in a group of children showed that there was a high degree of immunity to measles at birth (100%), but this decreased rapidly so that by the age of 5 mo. there was 36% immunity and by 7-8 mo. the level had dropped to 5%. There was a gradual rise from the age of 9 mo. onwards, so that by age of 6-9 yr there was 75% immunity and from 10 yr onward there was 100% immunity. Measles vaccination can thus probably be given from the age of 6 mo., but this needs to be confirmed by further studies. There is a need to compare children < 5 yr who are blind or deaf with a control group to determine the etiological role of measles infection in these handicaps in Lagos.