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MeaslesWhat is Measles? Measles is a respiratory infection that occurs mostly in the late winter and spring. Its incubation period is about 9 to 11 days between exposure and actual symptoms develop and 2 weeks between exposure and the appearance of a rash. Measles last about 10-14 days and will disappear 1-2 days after the rash begins, some may experience coughing that may last longer than the rash. Measles is a viral disease, some serious complications can be caused by the disease however, it should be left to run its course. Recovery time in children is about 2-3 weeks. SymptomsMeasles is a fairly contagious disease, some of its signs and symptoms include:
Measles begins with a bad cold which gets worse as days go on-running nose, dry cough, red watery eyes and fever.Measles may start off with a fever that may last a couple of days. The average temperature can get as high as 105 degrees in Fahrenheit. Make sure to check your child’s temperature at least twice a day and keep a record of the temperature. If the fever goes above 103 degrees Fahrenheit, you can give the child non-aspirin fever medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Do Not Use Aspirin unless prescribed by the physician. Children who take aspirin for a viral illness can develop a serious illness called Reye Syndrome. Reye Syndrome in some cases can be deadly. Along with the fever is a cough. The hacking cough is followed with a runny nose and pink eye (conjunctivitis). A rash develops on the face and neck and spreads through out the body. The rash will last about five days and will fade away in the same order it appeared. In the healing process the rash will have brownish look and shed into a fine texture for peeling. To identify Measles, the signs are Koplik spots which are small, red blue and white center with a funny shape. The spots are usually located inside the mouth. Koplik’s spots usually appear 1-2 days before the Measles rash and may be noticed by a doctor looking for the cause for a child’s fever and cough. Transmission of the MeaslesThe transmission of the Measles begins when this highly contagious disease that is spread through the air and can remain on surfaces for up to two hours. The Measles virus lives in the mucus of the nose and throat of those individuals infected. People who are infected with the disease are contagious for about five days after exposure and about five days after the rash appears so isolation from the public is recommended. Isolation does not prevent the disease from spreading; over 90% of non-immunized persons will develop measles if they live in the same house with an individual infected. Measles can not be treated with antibiotics. It’s best to let the virus run its course. If you think that your child has the Measles, please contact your physician so that the progress of the disease can be monitored and the doctor can provide you with tips on how to identify any other complications that may occur during the infection. During the Measles infection, it is best to treat the disease by providing therapy. Your child will loose fluids during the stages of the disease due to fever and sweat. You can replace the lost of body fluids by encouraging the child to drink plenty of water, juice, tea or lemonade. Drinking plenty of fluids will also reduce the chance of lung infections occurring that can result in pneumonia and secretions in the lungs that can clog the breathing valves. Vitamin A can be taken for patients who lack some deficiency due to lost of fluids and appeitite. If breathing problems occur during the Measles, a cool vaporizer can be used to help unclog the breathing valves and relieve the coughing associated with the disease. Do not use steam or hot water vaporizers with children due to accidents that can cause burns or scalding. Clean the vaporizer daily so that mold would not form. Complications Like Chickenpox, Measles can be an uncomfortable disease but if not monitored, its complications can become dangerous. When a child develops Measles, the body becomes more susceptible to infections and pneumonia caused by bacteria. If Measles are developed in an adult, its symptoms and complications are more severe. Some of the complications related to Measles are:
The fatality rate of these complications at 1,000 cases reported nation wide, over 150 deaths occurred (15%). Measles cases that transformed into complications that were bronchiole, out of 1,000 cases reported nation wide, 2 deaths occurred (2%). Children who are exposed to the disease should keep minimal activity while recovering from the disease. For example, children with Measles eyes are very sensitive to light and should not watch television. The child is also vulnerable to other infections that cause micro-organism that can lead to bacterial infection in the ear and lungs. To fight the infections related to the disease antibiotics is needed. Contacting your child’s physician during the first signs of the Measles is important so that proper medication can be prescribed if needed. A child can return to school normally about 7-10 days after the fever and the rash disappears. Measles PreventionTo prevent measles one should be vaccinated with the Measles-Mumps-Rubella, vaccine known as the MMR Vaccine. Individuals who do become infected with the disease should isolate themselves from the public and minimize their contact with people in order to prevent the spreading of the disease. In many countries, people are misguided about Measles and refuse to take vaccination to prevent the disease. Measles is common and can spread rapidly when brought into countries where vaccinations are uncommon. Therefore if vaccinations were not enforced, Measles would become pre-vaccine levels and hundreds of people who be exposed to the disease and could die from other complications relating to Measles. To protect the areas from tourists and visitors from other countries, there should be limited contact until medical diagnosis has been established for those who do not have proof of vaccination. The patient's mouth and nose should be washed several times daily to keep them clean. Fomentation should be given to the chest at least three times a day in case of cough. The eyes must be well cared for and must be washed frequently with cool boric acid solution. The patient should be given mild, soft and salt-free and cooling things to eat like curds, oranges, sweet limes, bananas etc German MeaslesGerman measles comes and goes within three days time. The rash is often the first and only sign of illness. Sometimes the glands of the neck are enlarged. Give the child the same diet as in the case of measles. It's not a dangerous disease at all and it requires no specific treatment. But if a pregnant woman gets it in the early months of pregnancy then there is a high danger to the growing foetus which might be born with many types of congenital defects. |
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