Fatal adult respiratory distress syndrome in a scalded child after immunization with attenuated virus (measles, mumps and rubella).

A fatal adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurred in a 15-month-old child who had suffered minor scalding during the febrile response to combined attenuated virus immunization (measles, mumps and rubella [MMR]). Despite vigorous efforts the child died 26 days after the accident. It is suggested that the scalding suppressed the normal immune response to the viremia and that the latter (i.e. most likely the measles viremia) caused the lung damage which, in turn, led to the ARDS. Histologically the lung presented a peculiar change with fibroblastic nodules, vessel wall inflammation and signs as observed in ARDS.