What is measles?
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| US CDC |
Measles is a viral infection that predominately affects children. It spreads easily through coughs and sneezing. In addition, it lives in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A person with measles is contagious for several days before they experience the symptoms of measles and for several days after the measles rash has cleared.
What are the symptoms of measles?
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| US CDC |
For most people measles start with a fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes, reports the World Health Organization (WHO). Other symptoms include sore throat, light sensitivity, swollen lymph nodes, diarrhea and fatigue as well as tiny white spots inside the mouth (Koplik spots).These symptoms begin within 10 to 12 days of exposure to the measles virus.
Several days later, the measles rash appears and a high fever may develop. The measles rash starts as red spots on the neck and head and gradually spreads throughout the body. Most people recover from the measles within 14 days.
How is measles diagnosed?
If you think you have the virus, call your doctor and explain your symptoms over the phone. This allows your doctor to reduce exposure to other people if you need to go to her office. Your doctor may diagnose measles based on your symptoms, a physical exam or may order a blood or saliva test.
What is the treatment for measles?
There is no specific treatment for measles. People should rest, take acetaminophen or ibuprofen and drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. Anyone with measles should avoid contact with other people and public places until at least 4 days after the rash starts. Your doctor can advise you of the exact amount of time you need to avoid spreading the virus to others.How serious is measles?
Measles is serious, particularly if complications arise. Complications associated with the measles virus include:
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| US Navy |
- Ear infections
- Febrile convulsions
- Pneumonia
- Encephalitis
- Dehydration
- Death
Complications are most common in:
- Children less than 5 years old
- Adults over age 20
- Pregnant women
- People with compromised immune systems, including people undergoing chemotherapy, those diagnosed with leukemia, people with HIV infection and those with a chronic illness.
A pregnant woman who contracts measles is at an increased risk for a miscarriage, premature delivery or stillbirth.
A possible long-term complication of the measles virus is subacute sclerosing panencephalitis(SSPE). SSPE is a brain disorder that is rare in western countries, according to Medline. Even after a full recovery from measles, there is a risk of SSPE developing 7 to 10 years after getting the measles.
What happens if I am exposed to someone with measles?
If you had the measles or received the appropriate vaccinations against measles, it is unlikely that you will develop measles. The vaccines are over 95 percent effective.
If you do not know whether you had the correct vaccines or the measles, check with your health care provider as soon as possible. If needed, your doctor may be able to minimize your chances of developing the virus.
Do I need the measles vaccines?
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| Merck |
Anyone born prior to 1957 is likely to have immunity from measles according to the CDC because they lived through several measles outbreaks. You may need the vaccine if you were born after 1957 and vaccinated between 1963 and 1968. Some vaccines used during that period were less effective than the live vaccine. You should discuss this with your doctor.
The CDC recommends that people receive at least one dose of measles vaccine if they were:
- vaccinated before their first birthday,
- vaccinated with killed measles vaccine (KMV),
- vaccinated with KMV followed by live vaccine less than 4 months after the last dose of KMV,
- vaccinated before 1968 with an unknown type of vaccine (the vaccine may have been KMV), or
- vaccinated with IG in addition to a further attenuated strain or vaccine of unknown type. (Revaccination is not necessary if IG was given with Edmonston B vaccine).
Where can I find more information?
The CDC, the WHO , John Hopkins Medicine and the Mayo Clinic have detailed information about measles. Click here to see a slideshow with more information about the current measles outbreak.
Sources:
This article is for information purposes only. It is not intended and should not be interpreted as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay getting medical advice or treatment based on the information in this article.
This article was originally published by me on Examiner.com.
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