Cellular Immunity and T‐Lymphocyte Subsets in Young Children With Acute Measles

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Abstract
The changes occurring in the T‐cell subsets during acute symptomatic measles were examined in ten malnourished and 18 well nourished hospitalized children younger than 5 years of age (median age 14 months). A significant decrease in total lymphocyte count was observed. which was due mainly to a decrease in helper/inducer T lymphocytes, whereas the suppressor/cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte subset remained unchanged. Consequently, helpdsuppressor ratio decreased significantly during the acute phase of the disease. A reduced response to mitogens (PHA, Con A, PWM) was also observed. Malnourished infants showed a trend toward a deeper depression in both helper and suppressor T cells during the acute phase than well nourished children, whereas the helper/suppressor ratio remained similar in the two groups.