PREVALENCE OF MEASLES INFECTION AMONG CHILDREN OF 0-5 YEARS ATTENDING RASHEED SHEKONI TEACHING HOSPITAL, DUTSE

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       Introduction

Measles is a highly contagious systematic viral illness caused by RNA virus of the genus morbillivirus, in the family paramyxoviridea (Gerald et.al, 2000). Human and primate are the only natural host of the measles virus, the main symptoms are fever, dry cough, red eyes, light sensitivity, a runny nose, sore throat, white spot in the mouth a characteristic that typically start on the first and spread down the body to the trunk and legs, (Gerald et. al., 2000). Most of the people recover within a couple of weeks but up to 20% develop complication that may include an ear infection, bronchitis, pneumonia, area or blindness, people who are malnourished, have a Vitamin A deficiency or have compromised immune system, are frequently more severely affected. Women who are pregnant when they are infected with measles are at greater risk of miscarriage or of premature labour (Gerald et al, 2000).

Before the measles vaccine will be introduced, almost all children caught the disease. In the United States and other highly populated populous rare sporadic cause may occur in susceptible persons of any age, although disease is likely to occur in those born before 1959, before the time Moses will be highly endemic and most person acquired measles during childhood (Cherry et. al, 2002).

Measles is now extremely rare in developing countries, because of the successes of developing countries where the nation is responsible for approximately I million deaths worldwide each year; almost all of the children recover with the measles in developing countries. It is also leading cause of blindness in those regions. Global eradication of measles with next to 10-20 years in feasible morbidity and mortality, particularly in developed countries, despite the introduction of inadequate measles virus vaccine which have greatly reduced in the 1960 (WHO, 2009). The window period of infection for infants lies between the disappearing of maternal antibody protection and vaccine administration (Manchester and Rall, 2001). Infection is transmitted via airborne exposure from coughing, sneezing or close contact with nasal secretion, measles virus remain active in air for 2 hours. It enters the body through respiratory system and spread systematically by infection lymphoid cells. Infection and spreading is complex process. Structure and protection of measles virus are important determination virus tropisms and pathogenesis (Yanagi et. al, 2006). Measles outbreak can result in epidemic that cause many deaths, especially among young malnourished children. In countries where missiles has from other countries remain an important sources of infection (Babanniyi et. al, 1995).

Severe complications from measles can be avoided through supportive care that ensure good nutrition, adequate fluid intake and good treatment of dehydration with who recommended oral rehydration solution. Risk Solutions replaced flute and other essential elements that are lostthrough the area to treat eye and car infection and pneumonia, (Adetunji   2007).

All children in developing countries diagnosed with measles should collect two doses of Vitamin A supplements, given 24 hours apart, treatment restore low vitamin A Level or even in well-nourished children and can help to prevent eye damage and blindness. Vitamin A supplement have shown to reduce the number of deaths from measles infection by 15%, (Adetunji   2007).

1.1       Statement of the Research Problem

Measles infection is the major problem in our community today. It is widely spread every day and a lot of children have been infected with the disease, the community and people are encouraged to have an ideal knowledge of measles prevention and control since the disease kills each and every gender (male and female) and causing further infection to children.

1.2       Aim and Objectives

1.2.1    Aim:

The Aim of this research is to establish the occurrence of measles infection among children attending Rasheed Shekoni Teaching Hospital Dutse (RSTH), Jigawa State.

1.2.2    Objectives:

Ø  To determine whether there is association between the measles infection and their residences.

Ø  To determine the level of infection among children.

Ø  To determine the decline in the incidence of measles from 2021 - 2023

Ø  To determine the Prevalence of measles infection in immunized and non- immunized children in RSTH from 2021 to 2023

1.3       Justification of the Study

Measles infection is one of the spread diseases that infect children. The project is designed to survey the prevalence of measles infection which needs to be defined and ruled out among children attending Rasheed Shekoni Teaching Hospital Dutse. This information is necessary in any attempt to access physical. weakness of measles among children.

1.4       Scope and Limitations of the Study

The study focuses on children aged 0-5 years who visit a specific hospital. The target population includes both inpatients and outpatients attending the hospital during a specified period. The primary objective of the study is to determine the prevalence of measles infection among the target population. Researchers will collect data on confirmed measles cases within the hospital during a defined time frame. The study will be conducted in a single general hospital to ensure consistency in data collection and minimize confounding factors. Also the study will rely on medical records and laboratory reports of children visiting the hospital. Confidentiality and ethical considerations will be strictly adhered to when accessing patient information. And also the study will be limited to a specific period to capture a snapshot of measles prevalence during that time. Longer-term trends may not be analyzed in this study.

1.5 Definition of the Terms

Measles: Measles, also known as rubeola, is a highly contagious viral infection caused by the measles virus (MeV). It is characterized by fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a distinctive red rash.

Prevalence: Prevalence refers to the proportion of individuals in a population who have a particular condition or characteristic at a specific point in time or over a defined period.

Teaching Hospital: A teaching hospital is a medical facility that is affiliated with a medical school or university and is involved in the training of medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, and other healthcare staff.

Infection Rate: Infection rate is the frequency of new cases of a specific infection within a defined population over a given time period. In this study, the infection rate represents the occurrence of new measles cases among children attending the teaching hospital.

Vaccination Coverage: Vaccination coverage refers to the proportion of the target population that has received the recommended doses of measles vaccine.