1 Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, and Kings County Hospital Center
1. Wild measles in our series of INH-treated children with tuberculosis exerted a deleterious effect on the course of the tuberculosis.
2. Gamma globulin modified measles had a similar effect on the course of tuberculosis.
3. The effect of measles on the tuberculosis appeared 2 weeks to 3 months after the measles, manifesting itself as an increased pulmonary infiltration or as an increased number of gastric washings positive for M. tuberculosis.
4. These relapses occurred at about the time or soon after the time when the depressed tuberculin reactivity returned to its original positive state.
5. Vaccine measles caused by live attenuated measles vaccine did not produce any evident deleterious effect on the course of childhood tuberculosis while under isoniazid therapy. The effect of vaccine measles on the course of untreated tuberculosis is not known.
6. Where feasible, children in high risk areas should be checked for tuberculosis before being given live attenuated measles vaccine. If tuberculosis is found, at least 4 months of isoniazid therapy is recommended after administration of live measles vaccine.
Submitted on June 9, 1964