Congenital measles--1982.

Measles acquired in utero has a broad spectrum of illness, ranging from mild to rapidly fatal disease. We encountered two case of perinatal measles during the 1982 epidemic. In both cases the mother became febrile 4 to 5 days before admission, and a typical morbilliform rash appeared a few hours prior to delivery. Physical examination of both infants was within normal limits. They were each treated with human serum globulin (0.25 ml/kg body weight). In one of them, a maculopapular rash appeared on the neck after 5 days, which rapidly spread to all the body. No catarrhal or constitutional signs were noted. Hyperbilirubinemia occurred in both infants, requiring an exchange transfusion in one. Both were discharged in excellent condition. Viral cultures were negative in both infants, while serological studies revealed hemagglutination inhibition antibodies in rising titers.