What is Measles? How is it Treated?
Measles is a highly communicable viral disease marked by grains of sand like symptoms appearing in the cheeks and proceeding to trunks, palms and soles lasting for about 5 days. Measles is mainly a respiratory infection, even though outward symptoms indicate its presence.
In developing countries, malnutrition, vitamin A deficiency, and severe measles are common. For these situations, measles treatment should include vitamin A medication for two days, starting as soon as a measles diagnosis is made. This measles treatment has been shown to decrease the risk of blindness and death.
The first symptoms that appear for seven to fourteen days after exposure to the virus are feverishness, cold, watering of the eyes, and a dry cough. A rash appears on the skin four days after the onset of these symptoms. This rash, which consists of small rounded spots with reddened skin in between, initially appears on the sides of the face and the neck, and then gradually spreads allover the body, appearing last on the extremities. Initially pink in colour, the spots grow darker as time passes.
Measles transmission usually occurs through the cough or sneeze of an infected person. This portion of the eMedTV archives discusses measles transmission, explains the incubation period, and gives statistics on who is most likely to develop measles.
Isolation is another element of treatment. Because measles is highly contagious from about four days before to four days after the rash breaks out, people with measles shouldn’t return to activities in which they interact with other people during this period. It may also be necessary to keep nonimmunized people — siblings, for example — out of the infected person’s house. Talk with your doctor about keeping someone with measles isolated.
If you are pregnant and have been infected with the rubella virus in the first months of your pregnancy, you may want to seek counseling about the risk that the baby will be born with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) and what options are available to you.
The way to prevent measles is by measles immunization: The standard MMR (measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is given in two dosages. The first dose should be at 12-15 months of age. The second vaccination should be at 4-6 years of age.
Vitamin A administered to children acutely ill with measles has been shown to reduce mortality. Results from a trial in South Africa showed children treated with vitamin A had a reduced risk of dying, recovered more quickly from pneumonia and diarrhea and had less croup. In addition, symptomatic treatment for cases requires antibiotics to combat bacterial complications, and oral rehydratation salts for dehydration following diarrhea. Case-fatality rates can be lowered if cases reach health care facilities early where appropriate care is offered. For uncomplicated cases, supportive fluids, antipyretics and nutritional therapy may be required. Many children need increased food intake for four to eight weeks to recover their pre-measles nutritional status.
Antibiotics should only be used if you have an eye, ear or chest infection as well as the measles. Drinking lots of fluids is important too – especially with a high temperature.
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