An overview of Measles

Measles also called rubeola is an airborne disease caused by a virus, and it’s very contagious. Symptoms may develop about eight to 12 days after you’re exposed. Symptoms can last 10 to 14 days.

Measles is a contagious disease that causes fever, a red rash, cough and red eyes. It can have serious complications such as encephalitis, which itself can cause hearing loss. You can prevent measles by getting vaccinated.

Measles is caused by infection with a virus from the paramyxovirus family. Viruses are tiny parasitic microbes. Once you’ve been infected, the virus invades host cells and uses cellular components to complete its life cycle.

The measles virus infects the respiratory tract first. However, it eventually spreads to other parts of the body through the bloodstream.

Measles is only known to occur in humans and not in other animals. There are 24Trusted Source known genetic types of measles, although only 6 are currently circulating.

Measles is spread by

1. From pregnant people to their babies — either during the pregnancy, delivery or while nursing.

2. Shaking hands or holding hands or hugging someone with measles.

3. Sharing drinks or food with someone with measles.

4. Contaminated droplets that are spread through the air when you cough, sneeze or talk.

5. Kissing someone who has measles.

1. A high fever.

2. Cough.

3. A runny nose.

4. A red rash, which starts at the head and then spreads downward.

5. White spots in the mouth.

6. sore throat

7. Red or bloodshot eyes.

Vaccination

Measles can be prevented with measles-containing vaccine, which is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. The combination measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine can be used for children aged 12 months through 12 years for protection against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella. Single-antigen measles vaccine is not available.One dose of MMR vaccine is approximately 93% effective at preventing measles; two doses are approximately 97% effective. Almost everyone who does not respond to the measles component of the first dose of MMR vaccine at age 12 months or older will respond to the second dose. Therefore, the second dose of MMR is administered to address primary vaccine failure

Your healthcare provider will probably be able to diagnose measles by examining you. However, they may order laboratory tests to find the virus in samples of:

1. Blood

2. Secretions from your nose and throat.

3. Urine

There’s no specific treatment for measles. Unlike bacterial infections, viral infections aren’t sensitive to antibiotics. The virus must run its course, which usually takes about 10 to 14 days.

There are some interventions available for people who may have been exposed to the virus. These can help prevent an infection or lessen its severity. They include:

1. a measles vaccine, given within 72 hours of exposure.

2. a dose of immune proteins called immunoglobulin, taken within six days of exposure.

Your doctor may recommend the following to help you recover:

1. acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) to reduce fever.

2. rest to help boost your immune system

3. plenty of fluids

4. a humidifier to ease a cough and sore throat

5. vitamin A supplements

The incubation period of an infectious disease is the time that passes between exposure and when symptoms develop. The incubation period for measles is between 10 and 14 days.

After the initial incubation period, you may begin to experience nonspecific symptoms, such as fever, cough, and runny nose. The rash will begin to develop several days later.

It’s important to remember that you can still spread the infection to others for four days prior to developing the rash. If you think you’ve been exposed to measles and haven’t been vaccinated, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Common complications from measles include otitis media, bronchopneumonia, laryngotracheobronchitis, and diarrhea.

Even in previously healthy children, measles can cause serious illness requiring hospitalization.

One out of every 1,000 measles cases will develop acute encephalitis, which often results in permanent brain damage.

One to three out of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare, but fatal degenerative disease of the central nervous system characterized by behavioral and intellectual deterioration and seizures that generally develop 7 to 10 years after measles infection.