MEASLES WITH RESPIRATORY COMPLICATION IN 2 ADULTS

BACKGROUND: Measles is usually considered to be a childhood disease. R ecent epidemiology data suggest that it is in progress amongst the adu lt population despite generalized vaccination. CASE REPORT: Within a 3 -week period, two brothers, aged 19 and 21 years, developed fever and interstitial pneumonia. Characteristic maculopapulous eruptions occure d later leading to measles diagnosis. DISCUSSION: Although the clinica l course is usually benign, measles can cause severe complications, pa rticularly respiratory involvement that occurs in 3 to 10% of adult me asles cases. The virus can affect the respiratory epithelium directly leading to bronchopneumonia which develops prior to the cutaneous erup tion; all manifestations then regress together as in our two cases. La ter complications due to bacterial superinfections can occur. Measles should be considered in adults with fever and interstitial pneumonia.