Machakos project studies. Agents affecting health of mother and child in a rural area of Kenya. II. The diagnosis of measles under field conditions.

The measles signs of children reported for measles were recorded on a check list of clinical signs. The presence and absence of these signs for a measles group (M) and a control group (C) were subject of a statistical analysis. The M and C group were determined by the results of laboratory determinations. A prediction score was derived by means of minimal paths analysis, used in reliability networks. The clinical score, based on certain criteria, the prediction score and the result of laboratory determinations were combined in order to reach a final diagnosis. A comparison of the clinical diagnosis and the final diagnosis showed a considerable overlap of the two diagnoses. The conclusion was that the clinical diagnosis only is sufficient to reach adequate incidence rates in the case of a measles epidemic.