Definition
Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by the measles virus and usually occurs in childhood. Once the disease has been overcome, it leaves behind a lifelong immunity – you will never again fall ill with it. Since the virus only affects humans, the World Health Organization’s goal is to eradicate the virus through a comprehensive vaccination. Due to varying vaccination rates, however, this goal has not been achieved so far and will continue to cause problems in the future.
Symptoms in children
Measles can be distinguished as a precursor of the disease from a main stage of the disease, in which different symptoms occur. Typical of the precursor stage are flu-like symptoms such as tiredness, fatigue, headache, abdominal pain and high fever. In addition, inflammation of the mucous membranes and the upper respiratory tract as well as characteristic changes in the mucous membranes occur.
The conjunctiva of the eyes is often affected in the context of these mucous membrane inflammations. As a result, bronchitis, conjunctivitis and the so-called coplic stains on the inner sides of the cheek often occur. Approximately two weeks after the infection, the skin rash typical of measles appears in the main stage, preceded by a reddening of the mucous membrane on the palate one or two days before.
The rash is described as spotty-nodular (maculo-papular). The exanthema (rash) begins behind the ear, spreads from there over the entire body and recedes after about four to five days. The rash is due to virus-induced damage to the blood vessels. The vessels become more permeable and the skin reddens. This is often accompanied by swelling of the lymph nodes, also known as lymphadenopathy.
Symptoms in adults
Although measles is actually considered a childhood disease, in recent years an increasing shift of the disease into adulthood has been observed. Today, almost 40% of measles patients are over 20 years old. This phenomenon can be explained by so-called vaccination gaps.
When there was no vaccination, one could not avoid measles as a child because it is highly infectious. Consequently, one was already immune as an adult. Since today the vast majority of children are vaccinated, the disease no longer necessarily breaks out in childhood if the child is not vaccinated.
The symptoms in adults are the same as in children and the typical course is also very similar. However, the disease progresses more severely in adults than in children, which is reflected in a faster progression and a significantly higher rate of complications. For more details on the complications, please refer to the course of the disease.
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