What is Measles? 🤧🦠
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection caused by the Measles virus. It mainly affects children and causes a widespread skin rash along with respiratory symptoms.
How is Measles Transmitted?
- Spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes 🤧💨
- Very contagious; can linger in the air and on surfaces for hours
- Transmission occurs even before symptoms appear
Symptoms
- High fever 🌡️
- Cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes 🤧👀
- Koplik spots (tiny white spots) inside the mouth
- Rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body 🩹
- Symptoms usually appear 7-14 days after exposure
Diagnosis
- Clinical diagnosis based on symptoms and rash
- Blood test to detect measles-specific antibodies
- PCR test for viral RNA in throat or urine samples
Treatment
- No specific antiviral treatment
- Supportive care: rest, fluids, fever reducers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen
- Vitamin A supplements can reduce severity in children
- Treat complications like bacterial infections promptly
Prevention 🛡️
- Measles vaccine (usually given as MMR: Measles, Mumps, Rubella) is highly effective 💉
- Maintain high vaccination coverage in the community to prevent outbreaks
- Isolate infected individuals to prevent spread