Measles: what to do if your child gets sick

Once very widespread, today it is mostly contracted by unvaccinated children: we must not be alarmed, but neither should we take it lightly. Here’s how to deal with it.

Once very widespread, today it is mostly contracted by unvaccinated children: we must not be alarmed, but neither should we take it lightly. Here’s how to deal with it.

Its name means “little disease”, but this does not mean it should be underestimated. In addition to being one of the best known exanthematous diseases of children, it is also very infectious and contagious, and can cause complications especially to the respiratory tract.

It is caused by the morbillivirus of the Paramixovidae family. And since it usually affects children between the first and third year of life, it is advisable to take them immediately to the pediatrician when the first symptoms appear.

It develops subtly and silently

The incubation period is “silent”, in the sense that no symptoms appear, and lasts from 10 to 14 days. After that, there is a so-called prodromal period of 3-5 days in which the first signs appear which look a lot like a strong cold : cough , rhinitis , conjunctivitis , a feeling of discomfort in the light and fever, which often immediately reaches 39-40 degrees.

It is the moment of maximum contagiousness of the virus, which is transmitted through the fine droplets emitted by sneezing and coughing.

The “stains” also appear in the mouth

Generally, the day after the onset of the prodromal phase, “Koplik’s patches” also appear, spots inside the mouth, clearly visible on the inner lining of the cheeks, which most often go unnoticed.

At the end of the prodromal period, the exanthema occurs: maculo-papules appear, i.e. spots slightly raised to the touch, on the forehead and face and then spread towards the trunk and extremities.

They tend to pale from the fourth to fifth day after the eruption. On the other hand, however, sore throat and cough appear; the latter is dry at first and then becomes catarrhous. The disease, barring complications, resolves on average after eight to ten days.

Complications under control

Measles shouldn’t be overlooked or underestimated because statistics say that, on average, one child out of six experiences a complication, which can be linked to a direct effect of the virus or to bacterial superinfection.

In practice, when the body is under attack by the virus, the bacteria often have an easy time taking root and infecting various organs in turn.

The most frequent complication is otitis media which in some cases, in addition to severe earache, can compromise hearing ability.

Other complications concern the lower respiratory tract (laryngotracheitis, bronchiolitis, bronchopneumonia), the digestive system ( diarrhea , especially in infants) and the central nervous system (one in a thousand cases suffers from severe encephalitis, which leaves permanent neurological deficits) .

Supportive therapies and above all lots of water

Measles treatment, which must be prescribed by the pediatrician, is essentially supportive: antipyretics for fever control and symptomatic drugs, depending on the case, for cough, sore throat, earache and so on.

It is essential to keep the child well hydrated by offering him sugary drinks. The pediatrician will evaluate the opportunity of an antibiotic treatment in case of secondary infections .

It can (and should) be prevented

While measles is a potentially risky disease, the availability of the vaccine allows for effective prevention.

The available vaccine contains a live attenuated virus, the administration of which, by subcutaneous route, is recommended starting from the twelfth month of life, in association with anti-mumps and anti-rubella (a quadrivalent vaccine containing also anti-varicella will soon be proposed).

It is well tolerated but can give rise to a mild, non-contagious exanthematous form without other symptoms after 10-12 days.

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.

The blog covers a wide range of topics related to health and wellness, with articles organized into several categories.

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