Abstract:
Over the recent years, the Ministry of Health in Uganda has reported multiple measles out-
breaks in various districts despite the availability of a safe cost effective vaccine. Measles,
especially among the unvaccinated can lead to serious complications including death while
its management heavily burdens the family and health care system. This study aims to
determine the immediate treatment outcomes and estimate the cost of treating a measles
case. A retrospective cohort study using records review was conducted among children
0–12 years admitted at Mulago hospital throughout 2018. Demographics, complications,
vaccination status, discharge status, duration of hospital stay, type of treatment, supplies
and investigations done were abstracted from the patient charts. Treatment costs were
obtained from the hospital pharmacy price list while the unit cost of utilities, human resource,
food and security were obtained from the hospital accounts department. Patients’ character-
istics were summarized descriptively. Cost information, was reported as mean with standard
deviation (SD) and range, and was stratified and presented as direct health care (blood test,
radiology and treatment) and direct non health care costs. Among 267 reviewed patient
charts, the median age was 1.0 ((IQR 0.75–2) years. 63patients (24%) were immunised, 79
(29%) were not immunized, Median length of hospital stay was 4.0 days (IQR 3.0–7.0) with
majority (n = 207, 77%) staying < 7 days. 30 patients (11%) died with mortality highest
among the unimmunised (n = 13, 44%) and severe pneumonia (39.5%) was the commonest
complication. 114.5 USD was estimated to treat a child with measles. Human resource
(79.33USD, SD 4.63) and treatment costs (21.98USD, SD 22.77) were the largest
expenses. Complications are common in majority of fatal measles cases and these carry a
high cost to the healthcare system.