Aseptic Meningitis after MMR Vaccination in Children of Mashhad

IntroductionIn Iran vaccination against Mumps (with Zagreb strain) has been started since 2005, and since that time the incidence of Mumps and its complications (like meningitis) has dramatically decreased. However during the 3 years after Mumps vaccination there have been frequent reports of Parotitis and Meningitis in the first few weeks after the shot. This article is the report of the authors experience about the probable adverse reactions of mumps vaccine.Materials and MethodsThis was prospective cross sectional observational study in Pediatric wards of Imam Reza and Dr Sheikh hospitals from August 2004 up to July 2009. In this study children who developed Parotitis or Meningitis within 0ne to six weeks after MMR vaccination were considered as probable Mumps vaccine adverse reaction.ResultsThere were 24 cases of Meningitis (with or without Parotitis) and 16 cases of isolated Parotitis during 9 to 39 days after MMR vaccination. Male to Female ratio was 3/1 in Meningitis and 2/3 in Parotitis group. In the whole group %65 (26) of children were 4-6 years old and 30% of them (12 cases) were One year old, and in all of them this was the first shot of Mumps vaccine. We had a probable case of vaccine virus transmission from a 7 years old girl to her 14 years old brother.ConclusionMeningitis is a common event during one to six weeks after Mumps vaccination with the current (Zagreb) strain.