Definition
Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by the measles virus. These viruses are transmitted either through direct physical contact with the sick person or via droplets in the air (aerogenic). Measles is characterized by the classic rash about 4-7 days after infection and after the first fever that appears first has subsided. The spots are initially small and dark red, but can then fuse into larger ones and correlate with a renewed rise in fever. The following topic is certainly also of interest for you: Measles
Causes
The cause of the measles infection is the measles virus of the same name, an RNA virus that belongs to the so-called family of paramyxoviruses and occurs exclusively in humans. Infection with this virus usually occurs either through direct physical contact with patients who are infectious in the period of 3-5 days before and about 4 days after the typical rash, or via droplets in the air. They then enter the body via the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract or via the conjunctiva, multiply in the lymph nodes and spread from there.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is often made on the basis of the typical skin rash alone, which in combination with the accompanying symptoms is characteristic of measles. In addition, so-called IgM antibodies against the measles virus can be determined in the blood. These are protein molecules produced by immune cells that are released into the bloodstream to fight the virus. The virus can sometimes also be detected directly from throat swabs or urine samples by cultivating it in the laboratory using special procedures.
Associated symptoms
In the first 3 to 5 days of the measles infection, i.e. before the appearance of the rash, general symptoms such as fever, rhinitis, coughing, feeling sick as well as typical white spots on the mucous membrane of the mouth (Koplik’s spots) appear, which look like small grains of sand, especially in the cheek area. If the fever then falls, the skin rash often appears between the 5 to 7 days, with which the fever can then also rise again. After some time, when the infection and the symptoms gradually subside, the skin where the rash previously appeared can then become loose in small flakes.
The rash, which occurs in advanced stages of measles, is often accompanied by more or less severe itching. Depending on how widespread the rash is, different parts of the body itch. If the scratching causes superficial scratching wounds (these often occur overnight when you unconsciously follow the itching by scratching in sheep/half-sleep), in the worst case, these wounds can also become infected with bacteria (superinfection) and become inflamed.
