Measles : symptoms, causes, treatment, prevention
Measles:-
Measles is the contagious infection caused by viruses, mainly affects the children, and the infection ranges from ear infection to Encephalitis. measles is an epidemic disease seen in school children. As a communicable disease, out break of measles is common.
If an individual once had the measles, he won’t get the measles in future, as the natural immunity is developed in them. When an adult didn’t got any immunization in past, may get measles when immunity becomes weak.
The infants below age of six months have very less chance of measles, because they have maternal antibodies through mothers milk.
Symptoms of Measles:-
When child get measles infection shows the following symptoms.
Early symptoms of measles:
* Mild to high fever,
* harsh voice,
* runny nose,
* cough, nasal congestion,
* reddened eyes, sneezing, and
* Very small white patches on the inner cheek.
Later symptoms of measles are:
* High fever; as the temperature up-to 105 degree celsius.
* General malaise,
* Characteristic rash,
* Rashes spread to neck, trunk, and limbs. Rashes fade after spreading to all parts.
* Skin peeling occurs in two to three days after rash.
* Conjunctivitis may occur due to eye infection.
Causes of Measles:-
Measles is the contagious infection or communicable disease caused by viruses. The infection spreads through direct contact or contact with droplet. Rubeola is the virus causes measles. Measles spreads faster during winter and spring season. Incubation period of measles virus is 8 to 12 days. The child is contagious even 2 days earlier of symptoms appears. After formation of rashes the child is contagious and measles can spread to other children come in contact.
Treatment of Measles:-
* Treatment of measles include, bed rest and fluid administration.
* Eye care to be given by cleaning with saline soaked gauze, and advice the child not to rub the eyes.
* Antipruritic drugs are administered and tepid sponge is given if needed.
* The affected child should not be sent to school.
* The school children should get immunized to prevent measles.
* Doctor will take all precautionary measures to prevent measles.
* Untreated viral infection causes viral bronchopneumonia, or Encephalitis.
* Otitis media and mastoiditis, is also a complication of measles.
Prevention of measles:-
* Measles is a contagious disease easily spreads to other children. So active immunization to all school children is necessary to prevent measles.
* Now a days measles vaccine is included in immunization schedule and given at the age of 9 months. This helps in preventing measles.
* MMR ( measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccination is also given to prevent
measles.
* Booster dose of measles should be given.
