videowiki/Measles

Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease, caused by the measles virus. It is also known as rubeola.

 

vs Rubella and Roseola

not to be confused with Rubella, (German measles) and roseola, which are different diseases, caused by unrelated viruses.

 

Symptoms usually develop 10–12 days after exposure to an infected person, and last 7–10 days.

 

Initial symptoms

Initial symptoms typically include, fever, often greater than 40 °C (104 °F), cough, runny nose, and inflamed eyes.

 

Koplik's spots

Small white spots, known as Koplik's spots, may form inside the mouth, two or three days after the start of symptoms.

 

Rash

But the classic sign is a red (flat) rash, which usually starts on the face three to five days after the start of symptoms, and then spreads to the rest of the body.

 

About 7% of cases have complications, including diarrhea, middle ear infection, and pneumonia.

 

Less likely complications

Less commonly, seizures, blindness, or inflammation of the brain, may occur.

 

Measles is an airborne disease, which spreads very easily, through the coughs and sneezes of infected people.

 

Other ways to spread disease

It may also be spread through contact with saliva, or nasal secretions.

 

Contagiousness

It is so contagious that a single infected person will spread it to nine out of ten non-immune people who live with them.

 

Duration of contagiousness

One reason is that it can be spread four days before a rash develops, and continue for four days after the start of the rash.

 

Immunity

Fortunately, most people do not get the disease more than once.

 

Testing for the measles virus in suspected cases is important, for public health efforts.

 

The measles vaccine is effective at preventing the disease, and is often delivered in combination with other vaccines.

 

Vaccine effectiveness

Vaccination resulted in a 75% decrease in deaths from measles between 2000, and 2013, with about 85% of children worldwide being currently vaccinated.

 

Once a person has become infected, no specific treatment is available, but supportive care may improve outcomes.

 

Supportive care

This may include oral rehydration solution (slightly sweet and salty fluids), healthy food, and medications to control the fever.

 

Antibiotics

Antibiotics may be used, if a secondary bacterial infection such as bacterial pneumonia occurs.

 

Vitamin A

Vitamin A supplementation is also recommended in the developing world.

 

Measles affects about 20 million people of all ages per year, primarily in the developing areas of Africa, and Asia.

 

Preventable deaths

It is one of the leading vaccine-preventable disease causes of death.

 

Decrease in deaths

In 1980, 2.6 million people died of it, but by 2014, global vaccination programs had reduced the number of deaths to 73,000.

 

Increase in 2017

Rates of disease and deaths, however, increased in 2017 due to a decrease in immunization, and may be as high as 10% in people with malnutrition.

 

Greatest risk

Most of those who die from the infection are less than five years old. The overall risk of death among those infected is about 0.2%.