Complications Prevention

Measles
Complications of measles may include: If someone in your household has measles, take
these precautions to protect vulnerable family
and friends:
 Ear infection. One of the most common
complications of measles is a bacterial ear
infection.  Isolation. Because measles is highly
contagious from about four days before to
 Bronchitis, laryngitis or croup. Measles four days after the rash breaks out,
may lead to inflammation of your voice people with measles shouldn't return to
box (larynx) or inflammation of the inner activities in which they interact with
walls that line the main air passageways other people during this period.
of your lungs (bronchial tubes).
It may also be necessary to keep Health experts warned against a
 Pneumonia. Pneumonia is a common nonimmunized people — siblings, for
complication of measles. People with possible outbreak of measles in the
example — away from the infected
compromised immune systems can person.
Philippines, as a disease long under control
develop an especially dangerous variety is fueled by patchy immunization programs
of pneumonia that is sometimes fatal.  Vaccinate. Be sure that anyone who's at and declining trust in vaccines.
risk of getting the measles who hasn't
 Encephalitis. About 1 in 1,000 people been fully vaccinated receives the measles Measles cases jumped nearly
with measles develops a complication vaccine as soon as possible. This includes
called encephalitis. Encephalitis may fivefold to 17,300 in the 11 months to
anyone born after 1957 who hasn't been
occur right after measles, or it might not vaccinated, as well as infants older than 6
November 2018 versus the previous year's
occur until months later. months. figure, mostly in conflict areas in the south,
said doctors and officials of the World
 Pregnancy problems. If you're pregnant, The first dose for infants is usually given
you need to take special care to avoid Health Organization (WHO).
between 12 and 15 months, with the
measles because the disease can cause second dose typically given between ages
preterm labor, low birth weight and four and six years. If you'll be traveling Measles is a childhood
maternal death. abroad before your child is a year old, talk infection caused by a virus.
with your child's doctor about getting the Also called rubeola, it can
measles vaccine earlier.
be serious and even fatal
for small children.
 clusters give the skin a splotchy red Diagnosis
Symptoms appearance. The face breaks out first.

Measles signs and symptoms appear around Over the next few days, the rash spreads Your doctor can usually diagnose measles
10 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Signs down the arms and trunk, then over the thighs, based on the disease's characteristic rash as well as a
and symptoms of measles typically include: lower legs and feet. At the same time, the fever small, bluish-white spot on a bright red background
rises sharply, often as high as 104 to 105.8 F (40 — Koplik's spot — on the inside lining of the cheek.
to 41 C). The measles rash gradually recedes, However, many doctors have never seen measles, and
 Fever
fading first from the face and last from the the rash can be confused with a number of other
 Dry cough thighs and feet. illnesses. If necessary, a blood test can confirm
 Runny nose
whether the rash is truly measles.
 Sore throat
 Communicable period. A person with
 Inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis)
measles can spread the virus to others for
 Tiny white spots with bluish-white about eight days, starting four days before Treatment
centers on a red background found inside the rash appears and ending when the rash
the mouth on the inner lining of the cheek has been present for four days.
— also called Koplik's spots There's no specific treatment for an established
 A skin rash made up of large, flat blotches measles infection. However, some measures can be
that often flow into one another Causes taken to protect vulnerable individuals who have
been exposed to the virus.
The infection occurs in sequential stages over
a period of two to three weeks. Measles is a highly contagious illness
caused by a virus that replicates in the nose and  Post-exposure vaccination. Nonimmunized
throat of an infected child or adult. Then, when people, including infants, may be given the
 Infection and incubation. For the first 10
someone with measles coughs, sneezes or talks, measles vaccination within 72 hours of
to 14 days after you're infected, the measles
virus incubates. You have no signs or exposure to the measles virus to provide
infected droplets spray into the air, where other
symptoms of measles during this time. protection against the disease. If measles still
people can inhale them.
develops, the illness usually has milder
 Nonspecific signs and symptoms. Measles symptoms and lasts for a shorter time.
The infected droplets may also land on
typically begins with a mild to moderate
fever, often accompanied by a persistent a surface, where they remain active and  Immune serum globulin. Pregnant women,
cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes contagious for several hours. You can contract infants and people with weakened immune
(conjunctivitis) and sore throat. This the virus by putting your fingers in your mouth systems who are exposed to the virus may
relatively mild illness may last two or three or nose or rubbing your eyes after touching the receive an injection of proteins (antibodies)
days. called immune serum globulin. When given
infected surface. About 90 percent of
 Acute illness and rash. The rash consists within six days of exposure to the virus, these
susceptible people who are exposed to someone
of small red spots, some of which are antibodies can prevent measles or make
with the virus will be infected. symptoms less severe.
slightly raised. Spots and bumps in tight