Measles: Signs and Symptoms, Treatment
and Prevention

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that causes a body-wide skin rash and flu-like symptoms. Since the introduction of the measles vaccine, measles has become a less common childhood disease. Although considered a childhood disease, it can be contracted at any age.

Contagiousness and incubation:

The measles virus is spread through airborne droplets from the mouth, nose and throat of an infected person. These droplets become airborne when a person sneezes, coughs or laughs.

A person is contagious 4 days prior to and 4 days after the rash appears. Children with measles should be kept at home and away from people who aren't immune for 7-10 days.

Symptoms usually start 8-12 days after exposure to the virus.

Signs and Symptoms:

• Flu-like symptoms: runny nose, cough, fever, sore muscles and sore throat.
• Red eyes and light sensitivity.
• Approximately 3 days after these initial symptoms a rash will develop on the face. The rash will gradually move down the neck to the rest of the body.
• Small red spots with bluish centers will appear inside the mouth.
• The rash is itchy and will last 4-7 days.

Treatment:

Measles is caused by a virus, so antibiotics cannot kill it. A person with measles will not be prescribed antibiotics; however, your body will fight the virus by producing anti-bodies.

Treatment is purely symptomatic. This means that the symptoms, e.g. fever, headache, itchiness etc. will be treated.

• Fever can be reduced with ibuprofen and other non-aspirin medication.
• Itchiness can be reduced with Calamine lotion.
• Children with measles should get plenty of rest and fluids.

Remember: Children aged 16 years and younger should never be given aspirin when they have a viral infection, because this has been associated with Reye-Syndrome, a potentially fatal condition.

Prevention:

Immunity is passed to babies by their immune mothers. These babies are usually protected against measles for their first 6-8 months.

The Measles- Mumps- Rubella (MMR) vaccine is given to babies between 12-15 months of age and again when they are 4-6 years old.

The MMR vaccine contains live-virus and should not be given to pregnant women, children with TB, leukemia, lymphoma or people with suppressed immune systems.

People who are allergic to the antibiotic Neomycin should not receive this vaccine.

If you have not been vaccinated, but have had measles once, you have life-long protection against the virus and you need not have the vaccine.

Possible complications:

• Ear infection
• Bronchitis
• Croup
• Pneumonia, and rarely
• Encephalitis

When to call your doctor:

• An infant was exposed to measles.
• The person develops extreme breathing difficulties.
• The person shows any signs of complications.
• Fever rises above 38,5ºC

Author: Annemien van Staden
Copyright 2008: Remedium. This article may not be copied, in whole or in part, without the written consent of Remedium.