A historical note on the severity of measles. Review of the casuistry in Chile. Period 1933-1980

Abstract

Currently, measles is often considered a benign disease, although this was not always the case. For example, in Santiago, Chile, at the beginning of the 20th century, thousands of children died from outbreaks of “alfombrilla” (measles). National reports documented its frequent complications, many of them fatal. These historical findings illustrate the magnitude of the health burden of measles in the pre-vaccine era. In the early 1960s, a measles vaccination program was launched in the province of Santiago, continuing in the following months throughout the rest of the country. This was the first national experience of its kind in the world. In 1992, local transmission of the infection was successfully interrupted. Measles is currently spreading due to reduced vaccination coverage, mainly caused by the interruption of local immunization programs and the existence of groups with low adherence or resistance to vaccination. The objective of this report is to review the main communications of the Chilean Journal of Pediatrics regarding the serious complications caused by measles during the last century.