A Review of Anti-Measles and Anti-Rubella Antibodies in 15 - 25 Year Old Women in Jahrom City In 2011

Abstract

Introduction: Measles and rubella are acute viral diseases. Rubella often has mild clinical symptoms and cannot be diagnosed. Pregnant mother's infection with this disease causes serious complications, especially congenital rubella syndrome which is one of the causes of neonatal mortality, severe congenital defects and permanent disability in children. In contrast, measles often occurs with severe symptoms. This study aimed to determine the immunity level of Jahrom's young girls and women against measles and rubella 7 years after the public vaccination comparing to determine the percentage of infection with these two viruses, the effectiveness of the vaccine and an appropriate method to prevent the complications of these two diseases. Methodology: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study. According to the previous study conducted one year after the public vaccination in Jahrom City, 100% of the subjects were given immune anti-rubella antibody titer and 94% received immune anti-measles antibody titer. Now this study measured anti-measles and anti-rubella antibody titers (IgG) in 180 women and girls aged 15-25 in Jahrom City through ELISA assay. Results: 165 subjects (91.7%) had positive rubella titer, 13 subjects (7.2%) had suspected rubella titer and 1 subject (0.6%) had negative rubella titer. Meanwhile, 170 subjects (94.4%) had positive, 6 subjects (13.3%) had suspected and 3 subjects (1.7%) had negative measles titer. Regarding suspected cases as positive for long-term maintenance of serums, a total of 98.5% of people were immunized measles and 97.5% were immunized rubella. With increase of age, antibody titer significantly increased (p<0.05). There was no significant relationship between taking or not taking steroids, immunity repressor and the subjects' immunity percentage (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that although the national vaccinationcomparing in 2003 has been effective in immunizing the women of gestational age to measles and rubella, it seems that due to the gradual reduction of this immunity, all women, before pregnancy, should undergo a test to determine their immunity to these two diseases and if necessary, booster vaccine should be inoculated.