Online ISSN: 2515-8260

A cross sectional study to see if there's a correlation between measles antibody titres and nutritional status in children

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Dr. Rakesh Kumar1 , Dr. Baiju Kumar2 , Dr. Ashok Kumar

Abstract

Aim: to determine the association of measles antibody titres with nutritional status in paediatric population. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, Darbhanga Medical College & Hospital, Laheriasarai, Bihar, India for 1 year. on 1-10 year old children. Total 300 patients were include in this study for finding out the seroprevalence and anti-measles antibody levels, and studying their association with age, gender, as well as nutritional status of these children. Blood samples were tested for presence of measles specific IgG antibodies. Results: Majority (66.67%) of the total subjects had been vaccinated against measles. A similar trend was observed in each of the age groups. However, the relationship between age and vaccination status was not found to be statistically significant (p=0.209). No statistically significant difference was observed in the baseline characteristics of vaccinated and unvaccinated group except for mean weight for age Z score which was significantly lower in the unvaccinated group (p = 0.021). Percentage of the total subjects ≤5 years old had severe wasting (severe acute malnutrition), while 21.33% had moderate wasting. Severe and moderate stunting was observed in 5% and 24% of the total subjects. In children > 5 years, 20% had severe thinness, 12.14% had thinness and only 2 (1.43%) case was overweight. 16% of the vaccinated subjects ≤5 years old had severe wasting (severe acute malnutrition), while 21% had moderate wasting. Severe and moderate stunting was observed in 8.70% and 15.63% of the total subjects. In children > 5 years, 19% had severe thinness, 12% had thinness and only 1(1%) case was overweight. Amongst unvaccinated subjects, 16.67% children ≤5 years old had severe wasting (severe acute malnutrition), while 21.67% had moderate wasting. Severe and moderate stunting was observed in 5.88% and 30% of the total subjects. In children > 5 years, 27.50% had severe thinness, 15% had thinness and no case was overweight. Conclusion: Nutritional status of children has an association with measles antibody titres as well GMT of measles specific IgG antibody, with those with better nutritional status having higher measles antibody titres.

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