Measles and malnutrition in a West Bengal village
Sinha, D.P.
Tropical and Geographical Medicine 29(2): 125-134
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-3232 PMID: 410125 Document Number: 499493
The occurrence of measles over a 5-year period (1970-74) was observed in a West Bengal village. Measles occurred every year between May and August 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 years and 91.5% were in children under the age of 7. 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 81 cases, only 2 children died, 1 who had kwashiorkor and the other who had measles. There was no mortality among marasmic children, nor were there any serious complications. The incidence of clinically diagnosed measles was significantly lower in severely malnourished children than in well-nourished children. It may be that the low severity of the disease in India, juxtaposed against the high mortality rates in parts of Africa, may be due to the relative prevalence of marasmic and kwashiorkor types of malnutrition in these particular geographic areas.