Symptoms
The disease begins with nonspecific symptoms such as fever, rhinitis, cough, feeling ill, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat, conjunctivitis, and sensitivity to light. Towards the end of the prodromal stage, the characteristic white-blue Koplik spots appear on the inside of the cheeks. As the disease progresses, the typical rash of skin spots appears, usually beginning on the face and behind the ears and spreading over the entire body. The spots are medium-sized, raised and flow into each other. Severe complications are possible, such as pneumonia, middle ear infection, miscarriage, and meningitis. Measles can lead to death in the worst cases.
Causes
It is a viral infectious disease caused by the highly contagious measles virus, an RNA virus of the paramyxovirus family. The virus replicates in the nasal and oral mucosa and is transmitted via secretions as droplet infection or by direct contact. Humans are the only host of the virus, so it is theoretically possible to eliminate measles from a population.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made in medical treatment on the basis of the patient’s history, clinical picture, possibly combined with blood analysis (antibodies). Other childhood diseases such as rubella or scarlet fever must be excluded.
Nonpharmacologic treatment
- Bed rest
- Sufficient fluid intake
- Wearing sunglasses if you are sensitive to light
- Avoid contact with healthy people, unvaccinated people or pregnant women
Drug treatment
For symptomatic treatment of fever and pain, painkillers such as paracetamol can be administered. Other symptoms are also treated mainly symptomatically. Other medications:
- Antibiotics against bacterial superinfections.
- Intravenous fluid administration
- Vitamin A, for deficiency states
- MMR vaccination, human immunoglobulin (passive immunization).
- Ribavirin
Prevention
The MMR live vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella see MMR vaccination. There is also a vaccine available that is only effective against measles (monovalent).
