Measurement of measles antibody in 157 children aged 4-6 years referred to Amirkola Children Hospital [2003-2004]

ABSTRACT

Measles is a febrile viral disease that spreads from person to person via respiratory route. Measles vaccination is done to produce protective levels of antibody against this virus. In regions where children have not received measles vaccine, the disease causes about one million deaths per year. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the measles antibodies in serum of children aged 4-6 years in Babol. This descriptive and analytical study was carried out on 157 serums of 4-6 year old children who received two doses of measles vaccine at 9 and 15 months of age. ELISA test was used to determine the serum antibodies against measles disease in these children. Among 157 subjects, 91[57.9%] were male and 66 [42.1%] were female. The mean age of children aged 4-6 years was 5 +/- 0.77. The highest mean antibody titer [90.3 IU/ml] was seen in 4 year old children and the lowest antibody titer [49 IU/ml] was seen in 6 year old children. No significant difference was seen in the mean antibody titer between male and female, but the mean of antibody level decreased significantly from 4 to 6 year children [p=0.03]. The results show that because of reducing the levels of antibody below protective level at the age of 6, we recommend a revaccination of measles at this age