CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND OUTCOMES AMONG ADULT PATIENTS WITH MEASLES AT HOSPITAL FOR TROPICAL DISEASES

Abstract

Introduction: Measles is an acute infectious disease which occurs in children and adults who are not immune to measles. However, adult patients with measles often have more severe symptoms than children. Objectives: Description of the clinical and subclinical features, complications, and some related factors to complications of adult patients with measles. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients aged ≥ 16 years with clinical symptoms suspected of measles and positive test result of serological immunoglobulin M for measles. Results: From October 2018 to May 2020, 294 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled. The average age was 29 ± 6. The sex ratio from male to female was 1:1.06. The most common clinical manifestations were high temperature, rash, and severe cough. About three-fourths of patients had elevated liver enzymes. Nearly one-third of adult patients with measles developed complications, including bronchitis (57.6%) and pneumonia (27.2%). Having a fever when the rash disappeared, a productive cough, and increased leukocytes were associated with the complication rate of measles (p < 0.001). Recommendation: Adult patients with measles had a high rate of complications, which were commonly bronchitis, pneumonia, and preterm birth in pregnant women. The proportion of complications in patients with persistent fever, productive cough, and increased leukocytes was higher than in the remaining groups.