Measles and Blindness in Nigerian Children.

Abstract

Summary: Gases of measles admitted to a 100-bed Children's Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria, during 1974 were analysed in order to find out the contribution of this disease to handicaps among children. Out of 8,706 admissions, 2,772 (32 per cent) were cases of measles. Forty-seven (1.7 per cent) of the children with measles developed eye complications which resulted in blindness in 29 cases. It is suggested that, in order to reduce the incidence of childhood blindness arising from measles infection, immunisation against the disease should be compul sory for all children in Nigeria.