Mortality and morbidity caused by measles in children with malignant disease attending four major treatment centres: a retrospective review.
Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1987; 295 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.295.6589.19 (Published 04 July 1987) Cite this as: Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1987;295:19
- M M Gray,
- I M Hann,
- S Glass,
- O B Eden,
- P M Jones,
- R F Stevens
Abstract
Measles is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in children receiving treatment for leukaemia. A review was made of all the documented cases of measles in children in first remission from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at four major treatment centres in 1974-84. Over the 11 years reviewed 1043 children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia were referred to these centres. Fifty one (4.9%) died while in first remission and 15 (29.4%) of these deaths were due to measles or its complications: 12 cases of pneumonia, 10 of them fatal; and six cases of encephalitis, five of them fatal and the sixth child left severely handicapped. These children would have had at least a 50% chance of long term survival. The severity of measles in the immunocompromised patient reinforces the need to improve the poor uptake of measles immunisation in Britain.