MEASLES AND MALNUTRITION IN A WEST BENGAL VILLAGE

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  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 29  (2) , 125-134
Abstract
The occurrence of measles over a 5 yr period (1970-1974) was observed in a West Bengal, India village. Measles occurred every year between May and Aug. and remained confined each year to small clusters or play groups. Restricted movement of the children within their own playgroup limited the spread of the disease. Most of the cases occurred in children between 2-6 yr and 91.5% were in children below 7 yr of age. The disease was not very severe in spite of the widespread prevalence of protein-calorie malnutrition, and mortality was low compared to rates from Africa. Of the 181 cases only 2 children, who had kwashiorkor and who also had measles, died. There was no mortality among the marasmic children, nor were there any serious complications among them. The incidence of clinically diagnosed measles was significantly lower in severely malnourished children than well nourished children. Comparatively, low severity of this disease in India, as against high mortality rates in parts of Africa, may be due to relative prevalence of marasmic and kwashiorkor type of malnutrition in these geographic areas.