TreatmentTherapy of the rash
Since there is no therapy for a measles infection and it heals on its own after a certain time, the individual symptoms can only be treated symptomatically and any complications that may arise can be addressed accordingly. Since the rash of the measles infection is often very itchy, it is treated to stop or alleviate the itching as much as possible. Cooling compresses, either with water only or with itch-relieving additives such as black tea, are helpful.
Furthermore, cooling creams or gels are helpful, which can also contain cortisone in case of severe itching, which additionally reduces it and has an anti-inflammatory effect. In order to avoid scratching the rash and a possible infection of the open scratch wounds, the fingernails can be deliberately cut very short so that the risk is minimized. In addition, hot baths should be avoided, as these often aggravate the itching.
Other occurrence
If the measles vaccine is administered, a typical measles skin rash may occur either during the vaccination or even, under certain circumstances, a real measles infection with a skin rash during life despite vaccination. The first case is based on the fact that the measles vaccine is administered with attenuated forms of the measles virus – a so-called live vaccine. If these viruses enter the body, the immune system reacts with a defense reaction and forms measles virus-specific antibodies to fight the viruses.On the one hand, these kill the viruses, on the other hand, the immune cells also act as a kind of immune system memory, memorizing exactly the virus and, in the event of possible re-infection, directly forming the most effective antibodies, so that an outbreak is usually prevented.
Even if the vaccine is an attenuated form of the virus, it can lead to attenuated, non-infectious measles infection symptoms during the defense reaction and antibody formation, and thus also to an attenuated, less severe rash. In the case of an incomplete measles vaccination, the infection can still occur in its entirety in the course of a lifetime when the virus is reinfected. In certain cases, it can happen that a measles infection with a rash occurs despite vaccination.
The most common reason for this is that the previous measles vaccination was not complete: for adequate measles protection, the body usually needs two vaccinations. Ideally, the first measles vaccination is given between the 11 and 14 months of a child’s life, and the second follow-up vaccination is given in the second year of life between the 15 and 23 months. The second vaccination is not the same as a classic booster vaccination, but rather one to make the vaccination protection complete. If the second vaccination fails, the body is not completely immune to the viruses and cannot (completely) fend them off when infected.
