Risk factors associated with more severe measles:
(1) young childhood or adult (< 5 years, > 20 years) without immunity
(2) pregnant women without immunity
(3) immunosuppression affecting T-cell function (see below)
(4) malnutrition
(5) vitamin A deficiency (associated with overt vitamin A deficiency
(6) crowding living conditions in a Third World country
(7) hypersensitivity to measles virus in partially vaccinated host (atypical measles)
Immunosuppression affecting T-cell function:
(1) congenital defect in T-cell function
(2) bone marrow transplantation
(3) cancer chemotherapy
(4) advanced HIV disease without HAART
(5) moderate or high dose corticosteroid therapy
(6) other immunosuppressive therapy
Disorders of with pure B-cell dysfunction or with macrophage dysfunction (like chronic granulomatous disease) are not associated with increased complication rates.
An effective vaccination program can reduce mortality significantly.
