Abstract
Three children died of measles pneumonitis in Miyakonojo. Their clinical course worsened abruptly and severely. Various methods of treatment were tried for measles pneumonitis.
In this paper we report four cases of measles pneumonitis. They underwent various treatments and took various courses.
Case 1: The patient deteriorated rapidly and died of severe A-a block. No active therapy could not be given since this was the first case of severe measles pneumonitis.
Case 2: The patient was a female child and pulmonary fibrosis was a complication that caused continued dyspnea (inspiratory-retraction, tachypnea, cyanosis) for a long time.
Case 3: In this case the pulse therapy was tried with the combined use of γ-globulin and diuretics. The patient's condition improved rapidly.
Case 4: Use of mother's fresh blood which contained high titer of anti-measles antibody cured the baby dramatically.
We conclude that the therapy of measles pneumonitis should be as in the following.
(1) Antipyretics
Extreme care must be required in using antipyretics when the patient suffers from measles. Careless use of antipyretics may provoke the patient's pneumonitis.
(2) Drip infusion
Rapid infusion must be avoided. Overhydration will induce severe pneumonitis, because the patients with measles are often associated with SIADH.
(3) Pulse therapy
Pulse therapy is effective for measles pneumonitis. And then it is important to make the patient's hydration a rather dry side.
(4) Anti -measles antibody
Fresh blood containing the high-titer of anti-measles antibody is very effective for measles pneumonitis.
