Study Finds One in Eight Children with Measles Develop Serious Breathing Complications

A new study published in Pediatrics reveals that approximately 12% of children diagnosed with measles develop stridor, a condition indicating upper airway obstruction. The research, conducted by pediatric emergency and infectious disease specialists at Hadassah Medical Center with collaborators from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Shaare Zedek Medical Center, highlights stridor as a common and significant complication among measles patients. The study analyzed 317 children confirmed with measles by PCR during the 2025 outbreak in Israel, with 39 presenting stridor symptoms. These children had a median age of 15 months, and 85% were unvaccinated against measles.

The findings show that nearly 90% of children with stridor required hospitalization, and about 18% were admitted to pediatric intensive care units. Two children needed mechanical ventilation, though no deaths occurred among those with stridor; however, 17 children died from other measles complications during the outbreak. Additional complications observed included dehydration, respiratory distress, pneumonia, ear infections, and bacterial tracheitis. The study notes that while stridor is usually caused by other respiratory viruses, measles-associated stridor tends to be more severe, with higher hospitalization rates and longer illness duration.

Dr. Oren Gordon, a senior author and pediatric infectious disease expert at Hadassah, emphasized that measles should not be seen as a mild childhood illness due to its potential for serious complications requiring intensive care. Prof. Saar Hashavia, head of Hadassah’s pediatric emergency department and co-author, stressed the importance of awareness among healthcare providers and preparedness in health systems, especially given the recent measles outbreaks in Israel and worldwide. The researchers conclude that recognizing the unique features of measles-related stridor is critical to preventing life-threatening respiratory distress and ensuring timely medical intervention.