Measles is a viral disease which is highly contagious. It is a deadly fatal disease that attacks young children aged 9 months to 15 months.
– It mostly affects the respiratory system and the skin of the young ones. Also it tends to be a communicable disease which calls for a keen attention to your child's health and yours too.
There are several causes of measles, among them are:
• An exposure to a person infected by the virus who coughs or sneezes droplets containing the virus.
• A direct contact with saliva, nasal secretions (mucus) and other body fluids of an infected person.
• Sharing personal effects; such as: a tooth brush, towels, bathing items, clothings or beddings, with an infected person.
Measles, however can be trigger-accelerated by:
• Lack of an immunity to the virus due to not being vaccinated or not having had the disease before.
• Traveling to or living in areas where measles is common or outbreaks occur.
• Having a weakened immune system due to HIV/AIDS, cancer, malnutrition, or other conditions.
Various groups of individuals are susceptible to measles. These groups could be listed as:
1). Unvaccinated infants and young children.
2). Unvaccinated pregnant women.
3). Adults who have not been vaccinated or do not have evidence of immunity.
4). People who are in close contact with infected persons.
– Places where the measles vaccination coverage is low have a higher outbreak risk; e.g., the sub-saharan Africa and Asia; whereas regions in Europe and America have measles eliminated but with fewer frequency of sporadic cases and outbreaks.
As it is, prevention is better than cure; some preventive measures against measles are:
• Vaccination:
– You have to be vaccinated with a measles vaccine a combination with Mumps and Rubella vaccines (MMR) or with Varicella Vaccine (MMRV). For young ones; the vaccine is recommended at 12-15 months of age and again at 4-6 years of age.
Also it is recommended for older children, adolescents, and adults who have not been vaccinated or do not have evidence of immunity.
Travellers to outbreak prone areas require to get a vaccination too.
– Under rare cases does the vaccine cause mild side effects such as fever, rash, soreness at the injection site, or swelling of the glands; but generally it is proven safe and effective.
• Supportive Care:
– Supportive care is essential to measles patients for them to recover their normal health conditions.
– This may include: oral rehydration solution (slightly sweet and salty fluids), healthy foods intake and medications to control the fever.
• Antibiotics:
– Also antibiotics may be prescribed if secondary bacterial infections such as ear infections or pneumonia occur.
• Vitamin(s) Supplementation:
– Food rich in vitamins should be inclusive in the patient(s)' diet; especially Vitamin A or a supplementation of the same. For children, it will help to prevent complications such as blindness.
#Take-Home:
Avoid contact with persons with the infection until they are not contagious; i.e., 4 days after the rash appears and always check out for the signs and symptoms promptly.
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