Measles weakens children’s immune systems, leaving them vulnerable to pneumonia, diarrhoea and other infections.
Children receive treatment during Bangladesh’s measles outbreak. Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS
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Children receive treatment during Bangladesh’s measles outbreak. Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS
Ten-year-old Nur Mohammad Arafat died in Chattogram on 6 November after contracting dengue, measles and pneumonia. Three days later, his 10-month-old brother, Mohammad Abu Bakkar, also died while on life support after developing measles and pneumonia.
Amid the measles outbreak, pneumonia cases among children are rising, with many developing the disease even after recovering from measles.
Doctors say measles weakens children’s immune systems and damages the mucosal lining, leaving them vulnerable to pneumonia, diarrhoea and other infections.
Dr Sanjoy Kumar Dey, professor of neonatology at Bangladesh Medical University, told TBS that pneumonia is a major complication of measles. The virus can directly cause pneumonia, while the disease can also develop after recovery.
Infograph: TBS
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Infograph: TBS
He said the outbreak had contributed to a rise in pneumonia cases, with malnourished children particularly vulnerable to severe complications.
Dr Mohammad Musa, head of the paediatrics department at Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH), said many children infected with measles are developing pneumonia and breathing difficulties, while some are also suffering from encephalitis, or brain inflammation.
Under World Health Organization protocols, patients should be monitored for three months after recovering from measles, as complications such as pneumonia may emerge during this period, he said.
He added that children often come into contact with other patients before measles is diagnosed. Separate treatment facilities from the outset could help contain infections.
Pneumonia patients on the rise at children’s hospital
According to the Epidemiology and Research Department of Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute, 2,293 children with pneumonia had been admitted as of 7 November this year, compared with 2,631 throughout 2025.
Outpatient cases are also significant. The hospital treated 42 pneumonia patients on 7 November and 276 during the first seven days of the month.
Dr Kamruzzaman Kamrul, associate professor of paediatric respiratory medicine at the hospital, told TBS that many children are developing severe pneumonia after measles, with some dying from the complications.
Parents should take children with breathing difficulties or pneumonia symptoms to the nearest hospital immediately rather than relying on pharmacies or traditional remedies, he advised.
Infected children should be isolated and given regular breast milk and nutritious food alongside necessary medication. After recovery, they should receive vitamin A capsules for two consecutive days, according to their age, he added.
Professor Mirza Md Ziaul Islam, director of Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute, said malnutrition, incomplete vaccination, pollution and exposure to overcrowded places increase children’s risk of pneumonia.
“Many children have developed pneumonia following measles this year, and some have died. Nearly 200 children have died of pneumonia, including post-measles pneumonia, at our hospital,” he said.
Recognising the warning signs
Doctors advise parents to watch for breathing difficulties in children with measles, particularly if they have a runny nose and cough.
Warning signs include unusually rapid chest movements, inward sinking of the lower chest while breathing, grunting sounds, and difficulty breastfeeding. An oxygen saturation level below 90% on a pulse oximeter requires urgent medical attention.
Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death among children under five worldwide. According to 2023 data from icddr,b, the disease kills around 24,000 under-five children in Bangladesh annually.
Dr Sanjoy Kumar Dey said early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months are essential to prevent pneumonia.
Timely complementary feeding, nutritious and vitamin A-rich foods, and age-appropriate vaccinations are also important. The pneumococcal vaccine, included in Bangladesh’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), helps prevent pneumonia.
He cautioned against unnecessary antibiotic use, saying some hospital-acquired bacteria have developed resistance to multiple antibiotics, making infections harder to treat.
Parents should avoid self-medication and seek prompt medical advice when children show signs of infection, he added.
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