MEASLES in ENGLISH
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MEASLES-
} Measles
is an acute, highly communicable viral disease with prodromal fever,
conjunctivitis, coryza, cough and small spots with white or bluish white
centers on an erythematous base on the buccal mucosa (known as Koplik spots).
CAUSATIVE AGENT-
} It
is caused by Measles virus. This virus is
a member of the genus Morbillivirus of the family Paramyxoviridae.
SOURCE OF INFECTION-
} The
only source of infection is a case of measles. So it is clear that patients of
measles are main source of infection.
HOW IT SPREADS-
} Transmission
occurs directly from person to person mainly by droplet infection and droplet
nuclei, from 4 days before onset of rash until 4 days thereafter
INCUBATION PERIOD-
} Incubation
period is commonly 10 days from exposure to onset of fever, and 14 days to
appearance of rash.
SIGN AND SYMPTOMS-
} Based
on sign and symptoms there are three stages in the natural history of measles,
} pre-eruptive
stage,
} eruptive
stage and
} post-measles
stage.
} pre-eruptive
stage- this stage begins 10 days after infection, and
lasts until day 14. It is characterized by fever, coryza with sneezing and
nasal discharge, cough, redness of the eyes, lacrimation and often photophobia.
} There
is appearance of the rash Koplik' s spots which are like table salt crystals
appear on the buccal mucosa opposite the first and second lower molars. They
are small, bluish-white spots on a red base, smaller than the head of a pin
} eruptive
stage - This phase is characterized by eruption of
rashes. These rashes are red,macular or maculo-popular, which begins behind the
ears and spreads rapidly in a few hours over the face and neck, and extends
down the body in 2 to 3 days .
} post-measles
stage- In this
phase is The child will have lost weight and will remain weak for a number of
days. There may be growth retardation and diarrhoea, cancrum oris, pyogenic infections
and presence of opportunistic infections
} The
child starts to recover on 21st to 23rd day and rashes
starts to disappear. But some time complication occurs. The most common
complications are: measles-associated diarrhoea, pneumonia and other respiratory
complications and otitis media.
DIAGNOSTIC INVESTIGATIONS-
} Diagnosis
of measles is based sign and symptoms such as presence of typical rash and
Koplik's spots in oral mucosa. Some
times specific IgM antibodies testing is also used for diagnosis.
TREATMENT-
} There
is no specific treatment for measles. Only symptomatic treatment is needed for
sign and symptoms. Vitamin A supplementation at the time of measles diagnosis
is also recommended. Main attention is give to prevent the spread to infection.
PREVENTION-
} Vaccination
is the best system to prevent measles. Measles vaccine is available as measles
only vaccine or in combination with rubella such as MR or with rubella and
mumps as MMR. First dose is given at 9 months (MR) and second at 15 months(MMR)
} Health
education by health departments and private physicians should encourage measles
immunization for all susceptible infants and children.
} Reporting
and notification of measles to local health authority provides opportunity for better outbreak
control.
} Children
with measles should if practicable be kept out of school for 4 days after
appearance of the rash as isolation measure.
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