Do You Know About Measles?

                            Do You Know About Measles?

Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus. The disease of measles and the virus that causes it share the same name. The disease is also called rubeola.

Measles virus lives in the mucus in the nose and throat of the infected person. When that person sneezes or coughs, droplets spray into the air. The droplets can get into other people’s noses or throats when they breathe or put their fingers in their mouth or nose after touching an infected surface. The virus can live on infected surfaces for up to two hours.

Measles causes fever, runny nose, cough and a rash all over the body. About one out of ten children with measles also gets an ear infection, and up to one out of 20 gets pneumonia. About one out of 1,000 gets encephalitis, and one or two out of 1,000 die. Measles can also make a pregnant woman have a miscarriage, give birth prematurely, or have a low-birth-weight baby. Other rash-causing diseases often confused with measles include roseola and rubella (German measles).

Symptoms --- The symptoms of measles generally begin about 7-14 days after a person is infected, and include: Blotchy rash, Fever, Cough,  Runny nose, Red  watery eyes (conjunctivitis), Feeling run down, achy (malaise),  Tiny white spots with bluish-white centres found inside the mouth (Koplik’s spots).

Measles remains a common disease in many countries throughout the world, including some developed countries in Europe and Asia. While the disease is almost gone from the United States, measles still kills nearly 200,000 people each year globally.

Who gets Measles?----Anyone can get measles. It is so contagious that anyone who is exposed to it and is not immune will probably get the disease. Complications from measles are still dangerous and occur more commonly in children younger than five years of age and adults 20 years of age or older.

Measles is the most deadly of all childhood rash/fever illnesses. The disease spreads very easily, so it is important to protect against infection. Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent measles.

Vaccination----

For infants and children: Measles vaccine is usually administered as MMR, a combination vaccine that provides protection against three viral diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella. Two doses are recommended for children:  The first dose at 12–15 months of age The second dose before entering school, at 4–6 years of age.

For adults: Anyone born during or after 1957 who has not had measles or been vaccinated is at risk and should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine. Two doses are recommended for adults who are at higher risk, such as:

College students, trade school students, or other students beyond high school, Those who work in a hospital or other medical facility, International travelers or those who are passengers on a cruise ship, Women of childbearing age, However, pregnant women should wait to get MMR vaccine until after they have given birth. Women should not become pregnant for 28 days following the receipt of the MMR vaccine or any of its components. (The combination MMRV vaccine is not licensed for those over 12 years old).