Medical Care: Vaccines for MMR or chicken pox also effective in preterm babies

Diseases September 5th, 2008

Vaccines for measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and varicella, or chicken pox, are effective in extremely preterm infants, even though their immune systems are not as developed as full-term babies. A long-held assumption by pediatricians and neonatologists across the country is thus confirmed.
The study, included 16 term and 16 extremely preterm (born before about 6 ½ months of pregnancy) infants born between May 2002 and May 2005, and examined the antibody levels of measles, mumps, rubella and varicella in this population before and after vaccination. The study was published in this month’s Pediatrics.
In the study the same number of preterm infants and full-term infants reached a level of immunity that was considered protective against the diseases. However the positive outcome, was not guaranteed because preterm infants’ immune systems do not always react the same way as full-term infants. A change in the types of vaccine used in the UK for instance, apparently resulted in an increase in Haemophilus influenzae type b infections, like meningitis and bloodstream infection in children. Children born prematurely were seen to be cautioning about potential problems this population may have with responding to vaccines. However this was not the case with MMR and chicken pox vaccines.
Though these conditions are not fatal, measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox can all have serious complications. Generally, the virus causes a rash, fever, itching, and fatigue, but it can also cause severe scars, skin infections, brain damage and pneumonia. A person who has contracted chicken pox can get a painful rash called shingles years later, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The measles virus causes a cough, fever, rash, runny nose, eye irritation and can also lead to ear infections, seizures, pneumonia, brain damage, and rarely, death. The mumps virus causes fever, headache and swollen glands and rarely, death. The rubella virus causes a rash, mild fever and arthritis, but in pregnant women, it can lead to a miscarriage or birth defects.