Measles:Causes,Symptoms,Prevention,Treatment
Measles, also called rubeola, is a contagious viral infection that mostly causes respiratory illnesses. Despite there being an efficient vaccination, measles remains a problem in some parts of the world due to a deficiency in its administration or people's reactions to it. Learning about measles' symptoms and ways of preventing it can be very crucial for public health.
Symptoms of Measles
Symptoms of measles infection usually emerge 7-14 days from exposure. There are stages through which this infection proceeds:Initial Symptoms: The onset of high fever, which may spike above 104°F, cough, runny nose, and red watery eyes.
Koplik Spots: In about 2 to 3 days after initial symptoms, tiny white spots may appear inside the mouth known as Koplik spots.
Rash Onset: Around 3 to 5 days after symptoms begin, a red, blotchy rash appears, first on the face at the hairline and then moves down the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet. This usually occurs when the fever peaks.
Causes and Transmission
Measles is caused by the measles virus, residing in the mucus of an infected person's nose and throat. It is transmitted by:Airborne Transmission: The virus becomes airborne when an infected person coughs or sneezes; the droplets are then inhaled by others around them.
Surface Contamination: The virus can survive for several hours on any surface. Infection via contact with a contaminated surface and then touching one's face is possible.
Measles is a very contagious illness; about 90% of people who are not immune and share a living space with an infected person will get the virus.
Complications
Although measles is usually a self-limiting illness, serious complications can develop, especially among certain populations:Ear Infections: Develop in about 1 in 10 children who get measles.
Diarrhea: Is reported in less than 1 in 10 people who get measles.
Pneumonia: Up to 1 of every 20 children with measles develops pneumonia, which is the most common cause of death from measles in young children.
Encephalitis: Approximately 1 child of every 1,000 who get measles will develop encephalitis-swelling of the brain-which can cause convulsions and leave the child deaf or with intellectual disability.
Death: Close to 1 to 3 of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications.
Prevention
The best method to avoid the infection is vaccination. This is usually in the form of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination given on two different occasions: firstly at 12 through 15 months, and then at 4 through 6 years of age. High vaccine coverage is important for herd immunity against measles to prevent outbreaks. Consultation with a health care professional should be considered if vaccination status is unclear.
The Need for Vaccination Efforts Globally
Measles remains a health problem worldwide, most especially in the areas where vaccination is at the lowest. It can also re-emerge even in the countries that had eliminated measles because of the decline in immunization rates and the travel overseas.
Measles remains a health problem worldwide, most especially in the areas where vaccination is at the lowest. It can also re-emerge even in the countries that had eliminated measles because of the decline in immunization rates and the travel overseas.
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