Author(s): Haider Abdul-Lateef Mousa MB ChB, MSc
Childhood infectious diseases started to emerge at adulthood as a result of fading vaccine protection after long period of time, ineffective vaccine, or unvaccinated individuals. The vulnerability to infection at adult age group is due to decline or absence of protective immunoglobulin (seronegatives group). Many reports indicate outbreaks of mumps, measles, and whooping cough, at adults who were vaccinated at childhood. It was suggested that the reason for re-emergence of mumps or measles was poor efficacy of MMR vaccine. In Europe there is an increase in the incidence of measles among young adult age group in recent years that indicates a shift of the illness from childhood to adulthood.