Paediatricians worry as overcrowding, incomplete vaccination fuel measles outbreaks

Paediatricians have issued a warning that children who are undernourished, live in crowded areas, and are not vaccinated are more likely to contract the measles.

The specialists added that kids residing in densely populated regions had a higher chance of catching and transmitting the virus that causes the extremely contagious illness.

The paediatric surgeons bemoaned the ongoing measles outbreaks in Nigeria, blaming partial or non-immunized children for a variety of reasons.

The paediatricians reassured parents that there was no need for concern regarding the vaccine, as the consequences of the condition, including blindness and diseases of the kidneys and liver, much exceed any concerns they may have had about it.

The measles is a highly contagious airborne disease that can cause serious complications and even death, according to the World Health Organisation.

Furthermore, while measles might have an impact on anyone, it is most common in children and can be prevented through vaccination.
Approximately 136,000 measles deaths were reported worldwide in spite of vaccine availability, the WHO reported. Most of these deaths occurred in children under five who were either undervaccinated or not vaccinated at all.

The World Health Organisation and the United Nations Children's Fund have reported a decline in measles vaccination rates, which has left around 35 million children partially or completely unprotected.

The health service issued a warning in 2023 after seeing a 79% increase in measles cases worldwide and a decline in measles immunisation rates.

Since the start of the year, Nigeria has reported that complications from the measles have killed about 29 children in Adamawa and Abuja.

Nigeria was ranked second globally and first in Africa by UNICEF with the highest number of malnourished children.
Waste, stunting, underweight, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies are all considered forms of malnutrition, which is defined as an excess, imbalance, or shortage in dietary consumption.

Out of the 35 million under-five children worldwide, almost 12 million children in Nigeria suffer from wasting, which increases their susceptibility to illness and death.

Prof. Aminu Muhammad, a paediatric surgeon at Bayero University in Kano, Kano State, addressed the topic and said that children who are malnourished have lowered immunity, which leaves them more vulnerable to infections and infectious diseases.

As a result, children who were underweight and had not had the measles vaccination were more likely to have the illness.

He predicted that the number of children who are not vaccinated would rise even more, given the nation's current economic circumstances and the rising rate of childhood malnutrition would further escalate measles-related complications and deaths.
The don stated, "Natural immunity is also weakened by starvation in this hard-hit nation. Given the enormous number of undernourished youngsters, it's likely that we'll see an increase in cases moving forward, with even more complex cases likely to arise. Children who are underweight and have not had all vaccinations are more susceptible to contracting measles.

Children who are malnourished are more susceptible to illnesses and infectious diseases because their immunity is lowered. Children that are undernourished are therefore more susceptible to illness.

The don added that youngsters who are undernourished because of their weakened immune need greater immunisation protection against diseases that can be prevented by vaccination.

He went on to say that the measles was extremely contagious and emphasised the need for full immunisation to ensure adequate protection from measles and other vaccine-preventable illnesses.
Parents were reassured by the child surgeon that immunisations were safe and would not affect their children in the present or the future.

He pleaded with parents to give their kids the advantage of immunity against infections, problems, and fatalities that can be prevented by vaccination.

"Just like how active participation and making sure that the nooks and crannies and hard-to-reach locations are reached have put us on the path to eradicating polio in our environment. In the same spirit, parents ought to give their kids the chance to receive a thorough immunisation against various diseases that can be prevented and result in morbidity and death.

"There are still a sizable percentage of youngsters who are not immunised. As a result, in order to make sure that every child has been reached and they are Parents were reassured by the child surgeon that immunisations were safe and would not affect their children in the present or the future.
He begged parents to offer their children the benefit of immunity against illnesses, issues, and deaths that can be avoided by immunisation.

Similar to how proactive involvement and ensuring that all crevices and difficult-to-reach areas are covered have set us on the way to eliminating polio in our surroundings. In the same vein, parents should allow their children to have the opportunity to get fully immunised against a range of diseases that can be avoided and cause illness and even death.

"A considerable portion of children are still not immunised. Therefore, in order to guarantee that each child has been contacted and that they are

However, if we immunise our kids, you'll discover that even the few ones that will develop the disease, will develop a milder disease than those who are not immunised,” Mohammad said.

Mohammad who is also the President of the Medical and Dental Consultants of Association of Nigeria urged stakeholders to create more awareness of the need for child immunisation and to dispel the rumours and fears parents had about
Additionally, Christopher Yilgwan, a paediatrics professor at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, claimed that malnutrition raises the likelihood of getting the measles, developing complications, and passing away from the illness.

He clarified that because measles damages the lining of the digestive and respiratory systems, it can lead to malnutrition.

According to the don, this is the cause of the diarrhoea that measles patients experience, which causes them to lose vital bodily fluids and calories.

"Immunity declines with malnutrition, and weakened immunity raises the chance of contracting the measles. The weakened immune system of children under five is the main source of measles cases, particularly in those who have not received an immunisation. If an adult suffers from an illness that lowers immunity, like the human immunodeficiency virus or diabetes, for instance, they are also at high risk.

“Malnutrition is a very big issue and of course where there are economic problems are parents are struggling to make ends meet, when measles comes, it will be very devastating,” he said.
Additionally, the don mentioned that youngsters residing in densely populated places were more susceptible to catching measles because the disease is transmitted by respiratory droplets.

Yilgwan pointed out that aspects influencing communities' acceptance of the vaccine were cultural myths, poverty, and vaccine misconceptions.

He added that efforts to address the issues influencing vaccination uptake in certain communities will not yield a complete resolution to vaccine-preventable fatalities.

The paediatrician asked all local government areas' public health departments to raise awareness about measles and other diseases that may be prevented by vaccination.

The don declared, "They must use health promotion to educate people about the importance of vaccinating their children. Teachers in schools, leaders in the community and religion, and peer educators can all be used to share the gospel of vaccine-preventable illnesses.”
In order to make sure every child is immunised, he encouraged public health officials to go house-to-house in areas where there is a measles outbreak.