What is it
Measles is an infectious disease of a particularly contagious viral nature. It gives rise to epidemics in children who attend the same community (kindergarten, school) and who have not been previously vaccinated.
Despite its name, which means “small disease”, measles can be dangerous both because it puts a strain on the child’s defense skills and because it can give rise to complications affecting the central nervous system.
Causes
Measles is caused by a virus belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family. It is transmitted by the respiratory route and has an incubation time usually between 9 and 14 days.
The contagiousness precedes the characteristic rash (exanthema) by 1-2 days and lasts for about a week after the appearance of the latter.
Common symptoms
At first, measles gives rise to a cold with fever and cough, which suggests an infection of the airways.
Shortly after, the typical skin spots on the face appear, which then extend to the whole body and “fade” over 3-4 days in the same order in which they appeared. Fever is usually high (above 39 °C).
Once contracted, measles gives a theoretically definitive immunization, so you will not get sick again for the entire duration of your life.
Read also the other cards on exanthematous diseases: Scarlet Chickenpox
Complications
The most frequent complications are bacterial superinfections (e.g. otitis), due to the loss of defenses after the acute phase of measles.
In fact, they tend to occur when the individual is now convalescing and present with a sudden feverish rise and the typical symptoms of the new infection.
In one case out of a hundred thousand, moreover, measles gives rise to a very serious and irreversible complication, of a degenerative nature, affecting the central nervous system, called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.
Treatment
The treatment is essentially based on fever control by means of antipyretics, on the maintenance of hydration and symptomatic drugs, to be used depending on the severity of the manifestations.
Any superinfections will require specific antibiotic therapy.
Measles can be prevented thanks to the vaccine, which is administered in combination with those against mumps (mumps) and rubella in a preparation called “trivalent”.
A quadrivalent vaccine is also available that also includes protection against chickenpox.
When to consult your doctor
The doctor should always be consulted at the onset of the rash, both because measles is a disease subject to mandatory reporting (the epidemic character facilitates the diagnosis) and because each case requires careful evaluation and sometimes monitoring of the course.
Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.
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