What happens when you have a contagious infection by the measles virus?
So there's a small period between exposure, and when you start getting stuff. Initially, it starts with virus type things, so fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes. A little bit later, you then get Koplik's spots, which are small white spots inside the mouth. You also get a measles rash, which is a flat red rash, which starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.
Pathophysiology
Airbone disease which spreads easily through the coughs and sneezes of those infected, affecting 90% who aren't immune who share a living space with an infected person. Can also be spread through contact with saliva or nasal secretions
Complications
Occur in about 30%, and include:
Diarrhea
Blindness
Inflammation of the brain
Pneumonia
Patient information
What bad things can happen in a contagious infection by the measles virus?
Diarrhea. Blindness. Inflammation of the brain. Lung infection.
Dx
Testing for the virus in suspected cases, is important for public health efforts
DDx
Morbilliform rash is a rash that looks like measles. It consists of macular lesions that are red, and usually 2-10mm in diameter, but may be confluent. It suggests:
Drug hypersensitivity reactions, in particular with certain classes of antiretroviral drugs, e.g. abacavir and nevirapine, and also the AED phenytoin
Tx
Advise infectiousness, including from 4 days before to 4 days after the start of the rash
Prevention, with measles vaccine. Vaccination has resulted in a 75% decrease in deaths. 85% of kids globally are currently vaccinated
No specific Tx is available
Supportive care may improve outcomes, including:
Giving oral rehydration solution (slightly sweet and salty fluids)
Healthy foods
Medications to help with the fever
If pneumonia occurs, antibiotics
Vitamin A supplementation is also recommended in the developing world
Patient information
What can you do about a contagious infection by the measles virus?
The best treatment is prevention, which can be done with the measles vaccine, which is usually given as the MMR vaccine, which combines both measles, mumps and rubella, into a 3-in-1. Buy 1 get 2 free .
Alright, but anything you can do to FIX measles once you have it?
Like the chicken pox, not really. So you can ensure bub is eating and drinking, and drugs can help with the fever. If there is a lung infection, antibiotics might help. In the developing world, vitamin A can also help, because it decreases the risk of blindness.
Prognosis
Pt's usually only get the disease at most once
Epidemiology
Measles affects 20 million per year
Measles primarily occurs in developing areas of Africa and Asia
Causes the most vaccine-preventable deaths of any disease
Measles results in 96k deaths per year
Most of those infected and die, are <5yo
Risk of death among those infected is 0.2%, but can be up to 10% in those who have malnutrition
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