Measles

Measles is the eruptive fever which reaches the largest number of children worldwide. Its complications are rare in Western countries, are common in the Third World and are responsible for a big mortality rate. Measles is associated with a paramyxovirus. It occurs as epidemics in winter and spring in temperate countries. Children under 6 months are usually protected by antibodies from their mother (if she has had measles or has been vaccinated). Contamination occurs by propelling droplets of infected saliva. The patient is contagious four days before the eruption. The virus disappears from the blood 4 days after rash onset.

Measles symptoms

Measles disease usually occurs in preschool. Measles incubation is about 10 days after infection. The invasion lasts 4 days with high fever, conjunctivitis, swelling of eyelids, puffy eyes, runny nose, cough, diarrhea, abdominal pain, anorexia, vomiting etc.. The pacient is very fussy, crying over nothing. The onset of measles is brutal.

High fever, classically regarded as a prodromal fever (a sign marking the onset of disease).
Inflammation of the nasal mucosa (rhinitis).
Cough with paroxysms (coughing).
Inflammation of the conjunctiva (membranes lining the front of the eye and inner eyelid) associated with a catarrhal flow type (secretion of mucous from the nose and eyes).

Measles cure

Measles is theoretically a notifiable disease but often;
The hospital should be avoided except in cases of serious complications (bronchopneumonia, major suffocating laryngitis, encephalitis) or risk factor (CF, respiratory failure etc.)
Antibiotics are often needed in cases of secondary bacterial infections or preventive (ampicillin, macrolide ...);
Symptomatic treatment includes the usual measures against fever, hydration (drink abundant) and the rest;
Photophobia requires sifting light in the room;
During convalescence, children remain vulnerable to infections because their immune defenses are temporarily diminished;
Treatment for encephalitis depends on the fluid balance and caloric intake, use of anticonvulsants and nursing.

Measles pictures

Measles preventive treatment- Measles vaccine

The human immunoglobulin seroprevention used in the 48 hours following the contagion;
The vaccine against measles.

Measles complications

There is a late complication of measles. This disease is characterized by a long incubation period (several years) and the persistence of the virus in children. It affects children between 5 and 12 years and its frequency is about 1 / 1 000 000. It occurs more often in boys than in girls and in 85% cases they live in rural areas. In 50% of cases, children have had measles before age 2 years. The exact cause of the disease is unknown. Is the overall immune deficiency or selective to the measles virus? Is there a particular strain of measles virus? The onset is marked by insidious intellectual deterioration, disorders of mood and character. In a few weeks or months, the picture is complete: sharp declines in walking, abnormal movements, seizures, ocular various major disorders of language and gestural activity, stiffness, impaired alertness etc. The diagnosis is based on the determination of measles antibodies in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. The brain biopsy can be formally diagnosed. The evolution is inexorably fatal within months or years. Cases of prolonged survival have been published. There is no known cure.

Other complications

Children with cystic fibrosis, severe malnutrition, heart malformations, respiratory failure, children treated with corticosteroids or anti-cancer chemotherapy have more complications than healthy children. The newborn infant of a few months, born to mothers who are not protected against measles, are also at risk. 5% of vaccinated children who are not sufficiently protected by the vaccine can get measles. In subtropical and tropical areas, measles often reaches infants under 2 years. The rash is on black maculopapular skin type. The scaling is very visible: fine white powdery. Complications are very common: bacterial pneumonia, pulmonary, laryngitis, stomatitis, conjunctivitis etc.. Measles accelerate the fatal outcome of severe malnutrition.