Measles outbreak in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2024: Can we trust numbers to predict the disease course and burden to the healthcare system?

AIM: To analyze the clinical features and laboratory parameters in patients suffering from measles during the outbreak in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2024. BACKGROUND: Due to low vaccination coverage in Bosnia and Herzegovina, measles outbreaks occur every several years, particularly among unvaccinate...

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Main Authors: Amila Muratspahić, Irma Dizdarević, Rusmir Baljic, Meliha Hadžović Čengić, Ahmed Velić, Velida Mulabdić
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221371652400393X
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author Amila Muratspahić
Irma Dizdarević
Rusmir Baljic
Meliha Hadžović Čengić
Ahmed Velić
Velida Mulabdić
author_facet Amila Muratspahić
Irma Dizdarević
Rusmir Baljic
Meliha Hadžović Čengić
Ahmed Velić
Velida Mulabdić
author_sort Amila Muratspahić
collection DOAJ
description AIM: To analyze the clinical features and laboratory parameters in patients suffering from measles during the outbreak in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2024. BACKGROUND: Due to low vaccination coverage in Bosnia and Herzegovina, measles outbreaks occur every several years, particularly among unvaccinated children. METHODS: Retrospective observational study included 279 subjects diagnosed with measles and admitted to the Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, from February to July 2024. The data were obtained from patients' medical histories. Standard laboratory techniques were used to measure the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cells, platelets, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 20.0. Values of p<0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Levels of observed laboratory parameters did not show statistically significant differences between patients who required longer hospital stays and utilization of healthcare system. The most frequent complications were dehydration, pneumonia and ear infections. Prior to hospital admission, before onset of rash, and bacterial superinfections, 28.6% of patients were prescribed with antibiotics. Those who experienced bacterial superinfections did not have statistically significant higher levels of CRP and white blood cells. The most serious complications were two cases of meningoencephalitis and one case of transversal myelitis. Fatal outcome was reported in two unvaccinated patients with previous comorbidites. CONCLUSIONS: Although measles is a vaccine-preventable disease, it still occurs in epidemic proportions in certain regions, leading to high utilization of healthcare system services. Routine laboratory findings cannot accurately predict the course and outcome of the disease.
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spelling doaj-art-1a28c7033d6e4f22a2cba0fb818aaddf2025-08-20T02:40:40ZengElsevierJournal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance2213-71652024-12-01396710.1016/j.jgar.2024.10.216Measles outbreak in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2024: Can we trust numbers to predict the disease course and burden to the healthcare system?Amila Muratspahić0Irma Dizdarević1Rusmir Baljic2Meliha Hadžović Čengić3Ahmed Velić4Velida Mulabdić5Clinic of Infectios Diseases, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Bolnička 25, Sarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaClinic of Infectios Diseases, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Bolnička 25, Sarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaClinic of Infectios Diseases, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Bolnička 25, Sarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaClinic of Infectios Diseases, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Bolnička 25, Sarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaClinic of Infectios Diseases, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Bolnička 25, Sarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaClinic of Infectios Diseases, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Bolnička 25, Sarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaAIM: To analyze the clinical features and laboratory parameters in patients suffering from measles during the outbreak in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2024. BACKGROUND: Due to low vaccination coverage in Bosnia and Herzegovina, measles outbreaks occur every several years, particularly among unvaccinated children. METHODS: Retrospective observational study included 279 subjects diagnosed with measles and admitted to the Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, from February to July 2024. The data were obtained from patients' medical histories. Standard laboratory techniques were used to measure the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cells, platelets, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 20.0. Values of p<0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Levels of observed laboratory parameters did not show statistically significant differences between patients who required longer hospital stays and utilization of healthcare system. The most frequent complications were dehydration, pneumonia and ear infections. Prior to hospital admission, before onset of rash, and bacterial superinfections, 28.6% of patients were prescribed with antibiotics. Those who experienced bacterial superinfections did not have statistically significant higher levels of CRP and white blood cells. The most serious complications were two cases of meningoencephalitis and one case of transversal myelitis. Fatal outcome was reported in two unvaccinated patients with previous comorbidites. CONCLUSIONS: Although measles is a vaccine-preventable disease, it still occurs in epidemic proportions in certain regions, leading to high utilization of healthcare system services. Routine laboratory findings cannot accurately predict the course and outcome of the disease.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221371652400393Xmeaslesoutbreakoutcomecomplications
spellingShingle Amila Muratspahić
Irma Dizdarević
Rusmir Baljic
Meliha Hadžović Čengić
Ahmed Velić
Velida Mulabdić
Measles outbreak in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2024: Can we trust numbers to predict the disease course and burden to the healthcare system?
Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance
measles
outbreak
outcome
complications
title Measles outbreak in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2024: Can we trust numbers to predict the disease course and burden to the healthcare system?
title_full Measles outbreak in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2024: Can we trust numbers to predict the disease course and burden to the healthcare system?
title_fullStr Measles outbreak in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2024: Can we trust numbers to predict the disease course and burden to the healthcare system?
title_full_unstemmed Measles outbreak in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2024: Can we trust numbers to predict the disease course and burden to the healthcare system?
title_short Measles outbreak in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2024: Can we trust numbers to predict the disease course and burden to the healthcare system?
title_sort measles outbreak in bosnia and herzegovina in 2024 can we trust numbers to predict the disease course and burden to the healthcare system
topic measles
outbreak
outcome
complications
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221371652400393X
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