Measles

Measles or rubeola is a viral infectious disease which causes fever with rash. The disease has become rare due to immunization of children. Failure to immunize a child at the right time may result in the disease.

Vaccine failure leading to the disease is less likely as the vaccine has a nearly hundred percent protection rate.

The virus is highly infectious and spreads through droplets of respiratory secretions from sneezing and coughing. Man is the only knows reservoir of the virus. Hence eradication of this disease is a possibility.

Symptoms and signs: The incubation periods varies between 1 to 2 weeks. Patients are infectious before the onset of rash. Hence contact with a patient of measles may not be recognized.

The disease starts with non specific symptoms like fever, cough, cold, redness of eyes with watering and lethargy.

In some children white spots known as koplik’s spots may be seen in the mouth usually opposite the lower molars.

A red rash begins to appear at the height of fever on the face. It quickly spreads to the whole body. The rash usually disappears within a week. Fever subsides about 3 days after the rash appears.

Laboratory findings: The total white blood cell count is usually reduced. Specific IgM antibody may be demonstrated 3 days after the onset of rash.

Complications: Secondary bacterial infection of lungs, middle ear and sinuses can occur. Some children develop croup. Fever persisting after the third day should arouse suspicion of bacterial infection.

Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) is another complication but is less common. It manifests as high fever, irritability convulsions and coma.

Subacute sclerasing panencephalits is a rare complication in which there is slow damage to the brain. It is usually fatal.

Other complications: Hemorrhagic measles is a severe form of the disease with bleeding into many organs. Decrease is the number of platelets (thrombocytopenia), inflammation of appendix (appendicitis) inflammation of the cornea of eye (keratitis) and inflammation of the muscle of the heart (myocarditis) are other possible complications.

In a pregnant woman premature delivery or still birth can occur. The virus causes temporary suppression of the immune system. This can predispose to aggravation of latent tuberculosis.

Prevention: A vaccine is available against the disease. Please visit childhood vaccination for details.

Back to childhood diseases from measles