Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a family virus. paramyxoviridae, and that leads to the appearance of some symptoms such as fever, persistent cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, small red spots that start near the scalp and then go down, spreading throughout the body and that do not itch or cause discomfort.
The treatment of measles is done in order to alleviate the symptoms, because the body is able to eliminate the virus naturally, with only rest, hydration and light nutrition being recommended. However, it is important that the doctor is consulted so that guidance can be given, especially in the case of children, who may need vitamin A supplementation.
Measles vaccine is the best way to prevent the disease and is part of the basic childhood vaccination schedule, with the first dose recommended at 12 months. However, if the vaccine was not given during childhood, it is possible to have the vaccine at any stage of life, in which case only one dose is recommended.
measles symptoms
Symptoms of measles can appear between 7 and 14 days after contact with the virus.
- Reddish patches on the skin that first appear on the face and then spread towards the feet, and which do not itch;
- Rounded white patches on the inside of the cheek;
- High fever, above 38.5°C;
- Cough with phlegm;
- Conjunctivitis;
- Hypersensitivity to light;
- Running nose;
- Loss of appetite;
- There may be headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and muscle pain.
In most cases, measles symptoms disappear without leaving any kind of sequelae. However, for people with a weaker immune system, there is a greater chance of developing complications such as airway obstruction, pneumonia, encephalitis, ear infection, blindness and severe diarrhea, which can result in dehydration. See more about measles symptoms.
Therefore, to prevent the development of complications, it is important that the general practitioner or infectious disease specialist is consulted as soon as the first signs and symptoms of measles appear.
Online symptom test
To find out if you have measles, select the symptoms you have on the test below:
How is the diagnosis made
The diagnosis of measles is made by the physician based on an assessment of the signs and symptoms presented by the person. However, to confirm the infection and rule out other diseases that may present similar symptoms, such as rubella, roseola, Kawasaki disease and scarlet fever, for example, it is necessary to perform a laboratory test.
The laboratory diagnosis of measles consists of performing a serological test, usually using the ELISA technique, to identify specific antibodies against the virus (IgG and IgM) or antigens, which can be done from the analysis of urine and blood samples , CSF or oral and nasopharyngeal secretions.
In addition, the diagnosis can also be performed using the PCR technique, which aims to identify the presence of the virus in the body, as well as its quantity, and this test can be performed in the analysis of urine or oral and nasopharyngeal secretions.
how the transmission happens
The spread of measles occurs mainly through the air, when an infected person coughs or sneezes, as the released droplets can contain viral particles capable of causing illness. In addition, the virus can remain on surfaces for up to 2 hours, so contact with contaminated surfaces could also be considered a route of transmission for measles.
The period in which the virus is most likely to be transmitted is 2 days before and after the appearance of red spots on the skin.
measles treatment
Measles treatment consists of decreasing symptoms through rest, adequate hydration, and the use of medication to lower fever. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends supplementation with vitamin A for all children diagnosed with measles, which should be done according to the child’s age and following the guidelines of the pediatrician and/or nutritionist.
A person with measles usually recovers completely, achieving a cure within about 10 days of the onset of symptoms. But antibiotics may be indicated when there is evidence of an associated bacterial infection, if the person also has an ear infection or pneumonia, because these are common complications of measles. See more details on measles treatment.
how to prevent
The best way to prevent measles is vaccination against the disease, the first dose of which is recommended at 12 months, however, there are some simple precautions that can also help, such as:
- Wash your hands frequently, especially after being in contact with sick people;
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean;
- Avoid being indoors with a lot of people;
- Not having direct contact with sick people, such as kissing, hugging or sharing cutlery.
Isolation of the patient is another effective way of preventing the spread of the disease although only vaccination is really effective. Therefore, if a person is diagnosed with measles, all those who are in close contact with them, such as parents and siblings, should be vaccinated, if they have not already been, and the patient should stay at home, rest, without going to school or work, so as not to contaminate others.
measles vaccine
Measles vaccine is usually given free at 12 months of age, with a booster between 15 and 24 months. In the case of the tetraviral vaccine, the dose is usually single and must be applied between 12 months and 5 years. There are 2 main ways to get the measles vaccine, the exclusive vaccine or the combined ones:
- triple viral vaccine: against measles, mumps and rubella;
- tetraviral vaccine: which also protects from chickenpox.
Anyone can be vaccinated as long as they have not yet had the vaccine, but measles vaccine can also be given to people who are exposed to the virus, such as when parents have not been vaccinated and have a child with measles. But, in this case, for it to take effect, the person must be vaccinated within 3 days after the appearance of the symptoms of the person with whom he had contact. Learn more about the measles vaccine.
