Measles (Rubeola)

Measles is a highly contagious disease characterized with fever, mucositis, rash. The agent belongs to the group of myxoviruses and its structure has RNA. Source of infection is person diseased with measles being in catarrhal period of disease and in first five days after rash onset.

Microscopically small elements of the virus are contained in slime of nasopharynx, respiratory tract, and they easily do spread when coughing and sneezing. The agent easily dies under the influence of external factors, for example, air change. In connection with this, infection transmission through the third parties, items of care, clothes and toys are not observed.

Vulnerability to measles is significantly high among individuals of any age who had never been diseased with it except children of six months of age with passive immunity gotten from mother via milk. After measles in an individual is developed strong immunity.

Symptoms and course
From the moment of infection till the onset of disease, typically usually is passed 7 – 17 days. Clinical picture is characterized with three periods:

• catarrhal period
• rash period
• pigmentation period

Catarrhal period lasts 5 – 6 days. Symptoms: fever, cough, running nose, conjunctivitis, redness and water retention of mucosa of swallow, increased lymphatic glands. In 2 – 3 days on roof mucosa do appear small red spots.

Almost together with enanthema on buccal mucosa may be detected many punctate whitish areas that present degeneration focal spots that appear as a result of virus affection. These spots are maintained till the end of rash, then they disappear leaving rugosity of mucosa.

During rash period are significantly frank catarrhal signs, photophobia, tearing, running nose, cough. Patient suffers from a new temperature rise up to 39-40C, condition significantly aggravates, patient feels apathy, sleepiness, loss of appetite, and in severe cases may suffer from delusions and hallucinations.

On the face appears morbillous spoty papular rash which first appears on forehead and beyond the ears. Size of certain elements is 2 – 5mm. During three days rash spreads gradually through the body:

• on first day rash appears on the face
• on second day rash appears on the body and hands
• on third day rash appears on the whole body

Pigmentation period (recovery). In 3 – 4 days after rash appearing starts recovery. Temperature of the body becomes normal, catarrhal signs are reduced, rash disappears leaving pigmentation. By 5 day from the rash appearing all rash spots either disappear or are replaced with pigmentation. During recovery patient experiences tiredness, irritability, sleepiness, immunity lowering.

Treatment
Commonly patient is treated at home. Plentiful drinking is needed to provide body with liquid.  Food should be rich with vitamins and digestible. Symptomatic therapy includes antibechic, antifebrile and antihistamine medications. In mild cases antibiotics are not used.

Preventive Measures
Today most effective way to prevent measles is vaccination.