EVALUATION OF IMMUNE-RESPONSE IN INFANTS WITH DIFFERENT NUTRITIONAL-STATUS - VACCINATED AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS, MEASLES AND POLIOMYELITIS

Immune response of infants vaccinated under Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) was evaluated for measles, poliomyelitis, and tuberculosis in Ifo/Otta area of Ogun State and Badagry area of Lagos State, Nigeria. In the prevaccination evaluation of measles antibody, 59 per cent were protected and 41 per cent were at risk in Ifo/Otta area, while 49 per cent were protected and 51 per cent were at risk in the Badagry area. After measles vaccination, 89 per cent of those evaluated seroconverted and 11 per cent did not in Ifo/Otta area, while in Badagry area, 86 per cent of those evaluated seroconverted and 14 per cent did not. For polio neutralizing antibody evaluated at post-immunization, 91 per cent seroconverted, while 9 per cent did not in Ifo/Otta area, while in Badagry area 66 per cent seroconverted and 34 per cent did not. Tuberculin test was used to evaluate the cellular response to BCG vaccination against tuberculosis. 64 per cent were found protected, while 18 per cent were at risk in both areas examined and 18 per cent dropped out. Using Gomez method to evaluate the nutritional status of the infants, 34 per cent were malnourished in Ifo/Otta area and are mostly immigrants. In Badagry area, 53 per cent were normal while 47 per cent were malnourished and most of the malnourished infants were plagued with diarrhoea, severe cough, high fever or malaria infection. Most of the malnourished in the two areas screened were between 9 and 18 months of age, which is the crucial period in the growing stage of the children. The state of malnutrition was found to have affected the immune response to tuberculosis and to some extent poliomyelitis. Nutritional rehabilitation is therefore recommended during or immediately after vaccination.