Measles
Measles, also called Rubeola, is a highly contagious, acute, and febrile respiratory viral disease. It is a viral disease that can prove serious for young children, but it is easily preventable by the measles vaccine. It is one of the main causes of worldwide mortality and morbidity, mostly in the regions of Africa and Southeast Asia. However, measles virus transmission is mainly observed among people who have travelled to high-risk countries and also among unvaccinated groups of the population (mostly children) in the community.
Measles symptoms
The symptoms of measles include :
- High fever
- Weakness
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Pitted or cracked nails
- A measles rash
- Sore throat
- Koplik spots inside the mouth
- Muscle pain
- Light sensitivity
The stages of measles disease
The measles virus infection can be segregated into different stages over 2 to 3 weeks.
Measles incubation period
In the first 10 to 14 days after getting infected, the measles virus spreads throughout the human body. During this time, there are no signs or symptoms of measles.
Not specific signs and symptoms
Measles disease starts with a mild fever, accompanied by a continuous cough, a runny nose, a sore throat, and red eyes (conjunctivitis). These mild measles symptoms may stay for 2 to 3 days.
Severe illness and measles rash
The rash consists of raised small red spots. A red blotchy rash in clusters first appears on the forehead. After a few days, the rash spreads to the other body parts. During this time, the patient experiences a high fever.
Recovery
The measles symptoms stay for about seven days. The symptoms slowly go away, first from the face and then from the thighs and legs. Other symptoms, like the cough and peeling of the skin, may last for about 10 days.
When to see a doctor?
If you or your child have contracted a measles infection, consult your primary care doctor, who may refer you to a measles specialist. Your measles doctor may ask whether you have taken the mmr vaccine and enquire about the measles signs and symptoms.
Causes
The measles virus thrives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected individual and the disease is capable of spreading to other people through coughing, breathing, and sneezing. When infected people talk, coughs, or sneezes, the contaminated droplets gets released into the air (where other people can inhale them) or settle on a surface, where they remain contagious and active for a longer time.
Risk factors
Risk factors for measles are as follow
Unvaccinated
By not taking the measles vaccine, a person is more vulnerable to measles infection
Traveling abroad
Travelling to high risk countries where measles is prevalent, can increases the risk of catching the disease
Vitamin A deficiency
Having vitamin A deficiency in the body, decreases the immunity, thus making measles symptoms more-severe.
Complications
Complications of measles are as follows
Diarrhea and vomiting
It can lead to dehydration in the body.
Ear infection
It is commonly seen in people with measles, mostly children.
Bronchitis, laryngitis or croup
Bacterial tracheitis (croup) is a common complication of measles
Pneumonia
Measles can cause severe pneumonia in people with low immunity.
Encephalitis
It is observed in measles infected children either during or after the infection. Encephalitis happens if the brain becomes infected with the measles virus
Pregnancy complications
Measles can result in pregnant women to give birth prematurely, or have a low-birth-weight baby if they are not vaccinated with the MMR vaccine.
Hospitalization
Unvaccinated people can suffer severe symptoms of meases and may need hospitalization.
Death
In a few cases, 1 to 3 of every 1,000 children with measles infection will die from neurologic and respiratory complications.
Prevention
The measles vaccine is administered as a combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. The chickenpox (varicella) vaccination may also be included in this MMRV vaccine. Medical experts recommend that children get their MMR vaccine shot between 12 and 15 months of age and after that, between 4 and 6 years of age, before starting the school.
Measles vaccine in adults
The measles vaccine is administered as a combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. The chickenpox (varicella) vaccination may also be included in this MMRV vaccine. Medical experts recommend that children get their MMR vaccine shot between 12 and 15 months of age and after that, between 4 and 6 years of age, before starting the school.
Measles vaccine in pregnancy
The pregnant women should get vaccinated with measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, atleast a month before getting pregnant. This is done if they didn’t get vaccinated during childhood. Pregnant women can also take vaccines right after the delivery of the baby, even during breastfeeding.
The diagnosis of measles include
The measles doctor can do diagnosis mainly by examining the clinical symptoms such as fever, measles rash over the body, Kopliks spots in the mouth, red eyes (conjunctivitis), etc. Laboratory blood including a complete blood count (CBC) and tissue samples tests from a throat or nose swab and urine test can confirm the diagnosis.
The doctor may ask about the medical history such as
- The child has received measles vaccines
- Any travel history to high risk countries with prevalent measles disease.
- Any close contact with an infected person.
The MMR vaccine's two doses are quite effective in prevention of measles disaese. The measles symptoms are generally mild in the vaccinated people.
Treatment for measles
Measles has no specific antiviral treatment. The management is primarily supportive like taking fever reducers, antibiotics and vitamin A. Controlling fever, dehydration, and infection including isolation are the main treatment methods.
According to WHO, administration of daily doses of vitamin A for two days and more days for undernourished children. Some measures can be taken to protect unvaccinated people after they've been exposed to the virus.
Measles vaccine in pregnancy
The pregnant women should get vaccinated with measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, atleast a month before getting pregnant. This is done if they didn’t get vaccinated during childhood. Pregnant women can also take vaccines right after the delivery of the baby, even during breastfeeding.
Dos and Don’ts
| Do’s |
Don’ts |
| Avoid close contact with infected people |
Drink less fluids |
| Take plenty of rest |
Miss your Vitamin A supplements |
| Stay in isolation if infected |
Continue with alcohol intake and smoking (for adults) |
| Take MMR vaccine |
Rub on the rashes |
| Use saline nasal sprays to moisten the nose |
Go outside in crowded places |
Follow the do’s and dont’s for measels because it can help to prevent severity of the symptoms and also avoid spread of the disease. Its prevent includes getting vaccinated with MMR vaccine - measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles) vaccine.
Measles Care at Medicover
At Medicover hospitals, we have the most trusted healthcare team comprising general physicians and infectious disease specialist to provide the best management for measles disease. We are working together to provide excellent healthcare to our patients in a holistic manner. Our team adopts a multi-faceted approach for managing measles disease and other infectious diseases with the active participation of healthcare experts from different specialities. We provide world-class healthcare services at affordable costs in all our departments to bring high-quality treatment outcomes and satisfactory experiences.
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