Measles

Measles, also called rubeola, is an extremely contagious disease and it is probably the most dangerous childhood disease, due to a variety of potential complications. The causes of measles are simple: actually, there’s just one cause, the measles virus. This virus leads to a serious respiratory infection and a skin rash that is present all over the body. Rubella, or German measles, is an unrelated condition; kids are often vaccinated against German measles along with measles.

Measles is relatively rare in the US, thanks to the measles vaccine. Actually, up until about 8 months old, children are protected from the measles virus by antibodies passed to them by their mother. Older kids receive a measles vaccination at school, most often as part of the mumps-measles-rubella vaccination program; one installment is given at about 1 year of age, while a second installment is given at age 4-6. You should consult with your child’s doctor before having a vaccination administered, as there are some situations in which a child should not be vaccinated.

The infection is transferred by airborne droplets of respiratory secretions. Measles symptoms begin with a hacking cough, high fever, runny nose and watery red eyes (conjunctivitis). Symptoms of measles also include sensitivity to light, a full-body measles rash that’s either red or reddish brown and blotchy, and Koplik’s spots; the latter are small red spots that have bluish-white centers, which appear inside the mouth.

Koplik’s spots usually appear about two or three days after the beginning of the fever and the fever actually will spike and reach about 104 or 105 degrees at the appearance of Koplik’s spots. The rash, which is mildly itchy, also appears around this time; it usually begins on the face and behind the ears and then spreads downwards along the chest and back to finally reach the thighs and feet. The fever and the rash usually last about one to two weeks, after which the child is usually fit to return to school.

Treatment for measles is often not given due to the fact that a virus is responsible for the disease and symptoms most often will go away on their own. Even though medical treatment may not be necessary, an infected child or person must be made to rest and given plenty of fluids. Baby measles can be treated with the measles vaccination within 72 hours after exposure to the virus.

Though measles is rare and clears up on its own, it can in certain cases lead to serious complications such as bronchitis, pneumonia, myocarditis and encephalitis. A child’s immune system can also be weakened and make the child more susceptible to future bacterial infections. If you are worried about your child coming down with the measles, visit your physician to learn more facts about measles. You can also ask to view measles pictures and to learn about the history of measles.