Measles

š  A viral infection that's serious for small children but is easily preventable by a vaccine

š  Caused by a virus (rubeola), that enters the body and multiplies inside cells in the upper respiratory tract

š  No symptoms for one or two weeks after initial infection making it difficult to detect

š  The visible infection usually lasts for 7-10 days. 

š  People are infectious to others from four days before to four days after the rash is seen. 

Signs and Symptoms

š  A rash

š  A fever 

š  A runny nose

š  A cough

š  Conjunctivitis (characterized by red and watery eyes)

š  Small white spots inside the cheeks

How is measles treated?
By:

š  Bed rest

š  Taking medicines to lower the fever (there are no specific medicines for measles)

š  Supportive care

What happens if the disease doesn’t clear up?

š  Measles usually clears up after about ten days with no complications

š  However if there are complications, it can lead to some pretty serious things;

š  Pneumonia

š  Ear and sinus infections

š  Brain damage

š  Convulsions

š  These cases may be fatal, and in malnourished children and overcrowded areas is a major cause of death

š  Complications tend to be more severe in adults who contract the disease. 

š  People that are at high risk for complications are: Infants and children aged <5 years, adults aged >20 years, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems, such as from leukemia and HIV infection.

Statistics

š  10% of infant deaths in developing countries is caused by measles

š  Responsible for many cases of childhood blindness

š  The risk of death among those infected is usually 0.2%,but may be up to 10% in those who have malnutrition.  It is not believed to affect other animals.

š   Before immunization in the United States, between three and four million cases occurred each year.^[9] As a result of widespread vaccination, the disease was eliminated from the Americas by 2016.^[13]

How is measles contracted?

š  Someone infected sneezes or coughs, releasing droplets containing millions of virus particles

š  Inhaled by uninfected people who have no immunity to the disease

š  (Infants under 8 months are rarely affected as they have passive immunity from their mother’s placenta)

š  Persons living in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions are especially at risk, since measles is easily transmitted in such conditions

š  Infants suffering from a Vitamin A deficiency are also at risk

Prevention

š  Measles is only prevented by childhood vaccination. 

š  In developed countries, it is recommended that children be immunized against measles at 12 months, generally as part of a three-part MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella). The vaccine is generally not given before this age because such infants respond inadequately to the vaccine due to an immature immune system^] A second dose of the vaccine is usually given to children between the ages of four and five, to increase rates of immunity. Vaccination rates have been high enough to make measles relatively uncommon. Adverse reactions to vaccination are rare, with fever and pain at the injection site being the most common. Life-threatening adverse reactions occur in less than one per million vaccinations (<0.0001%).

š  In developing countries where measles is endemic, WHO doctors recommend two doses of vaccine be given at six and nine months of age. The vaccine should be given whether the child is HIV-infected or not.The vaccine is less effective in HIV-infected infants than in the general population, but early treatment with antiretroviral drugs can increase its effectiveness. Measles vaccination programs are often used to deliver other child health interventions, as well, such as bed nets to protect against malaria, antiparasite medicine and vitamin A supplements, and so contribute to the reduction of child deaths from other causes.

š  vaccination.