Content:

Measles is transmitted by airborne droplets. This means that a healthy person can become infected with measles if they inhale, swallow, or allow particles of sputum or saliva that are released into the air by a person who has the disease to get into the eyes. It was found that the measles virus can remain in the air or on the surfaces of objects for another 2 hours after a person infected with this infection has been in the room.

A person with measles becomes contagious and can infect other people a few days after the onset of the first symptoms of the disease (fever) and continues to be contagious for the first 4 days after the rash appears.

Thus, if at the moment when you were in contact with a person who later became ill with measles, he did not have any symptoms of the disease, you most likely could not catch it from him. On the other hand, you are more likely to contract measles if you were in contact with a person on days when they had a fever or just developed a rash.

Which of the people infected with measles can get this disease? Can a child or adult who has been vaccinated against measles get measles? Can you get measles twice?

As a rule, only those people who have never had the disease before and have never received a single dose get measles. vaccinations against this infection.

If more than 3 weeks have passed since you could have contracted measles (this is the maximum incubation period Incubation period
with measles), but you still do not have any signs of the disease - you do not need to see a doctor. In this case, you should consider that you are either not infected or have resistance (immunity) to this disease.

In the course of scientific research, it was found that if a person receives both doses of measles vaccination, immunity (antibodies) will form in his body, which will last for several decades and will protect him from this disease.

However, in rare cases, people who have been vaccinated against measles can get sick, but they usually have a mild form of the disease.

After a person (child) has been ill with measles, in his body, as well as after vaccination, a strong immunity against this infection is formed. In this regard, people rarely get measles again (twice).

What can a doctor do to prevent a person who has already contracted measles from developing measles?

In the first days after a person is infected, the measles virus slowly multiplies in the cells lining the nose, throat, and trachea without causing any symptoms. In medicine, this period is called incubation period Incubation period- this is the period of time between the moment the infection enters the human body and the moment the first symptoms of the disease appear.
For many viral infections of the respiratory tract, such as influenza, the incubation period is 1-3 days (that is, the first symptoms of the disease appear 1-3 days after exposure to the virus). For other infections, the incubation period can vary from a few days (rarely hours) to weeks, months, or years. measles.

After 7-10 days of reproduction (maximum after 21 days), the virus begins to enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, causing fever, rash (and possibly complications).

In this regard, in order to prevent the development of measles in a person who has already contracted this infection, doctors can either put a person measles vaccine(after vaccination, antibodies against this infection quickly appear in the blood), or inject a person with a serum containing ready-made antibodies against the measles virus.

If you go to the doctor and report that you or your child may have had measles, the doctor will need to do the following:

1. He will ask you to show him the entries on your medical record to see if they mention a vaccination against measles received in childhood or that you already had measles;
2. If there are such records, then no treatment will be needed, since people who have been vaccinated (or have been ill with this disease once) rarely get measles.
   If there is no record of vaccination or past history of measles, your doctor will order a special test to help determine if you have antibodies against the measles virus in your blood.
3. If the test shows that you have antibodies against measles in your blood, then no treatment is needed, since people who have antibodies against measles are well protected from this infection.
   If the test shows that you do not have antibodies against the measles virus, the doctor will have to give you an injection of serum (immunoglobulin) and then (after 5-6 months) vaccinate against measles.
4. If by the time you see a doctor you already have the first symptoms of measles (see below), then it will be useless to give a vaccine or an injection of serum. In this case, the doctor will only have to explain to you what can be done to make it easier to endure the period of illness and in which case you need to urgently seek help. This is discussed in detail below.

What if I (or my child) already has measles?

What symptoms and signs should be considered normal for measles? How long can measles last?

The first symptoms (signs) of measles may resemble a cold or flu: a sick person suddenly has a fever (up to 39-40 C), and after a few days, a cough, runny nose, redness of the eyes (conjunctivitis) and a skin rash appear.

The measles rash looks like red spots (the spots may be flat or slightly raised) that first appear on the scalp, face, and neck, and then gradually spread to the trunk, arms, and legs. Separate spots can increase and merge with each other, forming large red spots. 5-6 days after the appearance, the rash begins to disappear in the same sequence in which it appeared. The rash first disappears on the head and neck, then on the trunk, arms and legs. After a rash, no traces remain on the skin.

Children with measles sometimes experience vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

In some cases, in the mouth of children (and adults) with measles, white spots appear on the inside of the cheeks, which in medicine are called Koplik spots. These spots remain on the inner surface of the cheeks for no more than 18 hours and then disappear without a trace.

The temperature with measles persists, on average, for 1 week.

The measles rash can last for about 7-10 days. The rash does not need to be smeared with anything. About 4 days after the rash appears, a person is no longer contagious.

Measles cough does not need to be treated. It can persist throughout the entire period of illness and for another 1-2 weeks after the disappearance of the rash.

What symptoms and signs might indicate that measles is developing aggressively? What are the consequences and complications of measles?

In the course of clinical observations of large groups of people who fell ill with measles, it was found that this infection especially often causes complications.

• in children under 5 years of age
• in adults over 20 years of age
• in pregnant women
• in people with reduced immunity Immunocompromised (compromised) patients include:
  people who are infected with HIV or have AIDS,
  people who have diabetes
  people who have cancer and are taking cancer treatment (chemo, radiotherapy),
  people who are taking treatment with glucocorticoid drugs or other drugs that reduce the activity of the immune system (for example, methotrexate, azathioprine, mercaptopurine, etc.),
  people who have undergone an internal organ transplant and are taking medications that suppress transplant rejection,
  people who suffer from chronic diseases of internal organs: chronic renal failure, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, heart failure..

6% of people who get measles develop pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs). As you know, pneumonia belongs to the category of extremely dangerous diseases and in some cases, even with adequate treatment, it leads to the death of a sick person.

Another dangerous complication of measles is inflammation of the brain tissue (encephalitis). This complication develops in about 0.1-0.3% of people who get measles. Encephalitis can lead to the death of a sick person or to various neurological disorders (paralysis of some part of the body, speech impairment, epilepsy, etc.).

Measles can also cause inflammation of the ears (otitis media), inflammation and destruction of eye tissues, and can lead to blindness.

This is a public safety issue!

The measles virus is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. The patient may cough in the room and leave, and a few hours later you will become infected from the droplets left in the air (if you are not vaccinated).

No other virus is as contagious.

More recently, measles was considered defeated in developed countries. However, there are still regions in the world where this disease persists - mainly poor countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam.

Unfortunately, in recent years, measles has begun to make a comeback in the US, Canada, and Europe due to the fact that many people refuse to get vaccinated. This infection has not bypassed Ukraine either.

Here are 8 facts about measles that everyone should know:

1. How is measles transmitted?

The main method of transmission is airborne.

The source of the disease is a sick person who sheds the virus (especially in the last two or three days of the incubation period and up to the third or fifth day after the onset of the rash).

The virus, circulating in the air, can penetrate into neighboring rooms and even into rooms located on other floors. It is not resistant to the external environment, therefore it quickly dies under the influence of sunlight and ultraviolet rays. In the room in which the patient was, the risk of contracting measles persists for at least 30 minutes.

There is also a vertical route of transmission (from a pregnant woman to a fetus) and contact-household (through common dishes with a measles patient). The disease is not transmitted through third hands: after contact with a person with measles, you cannot pass it on to another person.

2. What does measles look like?

Konmesa/shutterstock For the first few days, measles can be mistaken for a cold. The patient complains of lethargy, headache, loss of appetite. There is a runny nose, a dry, "barking" cough, the temperature rises to 38-40 ° C (it usually decreases on the third or fourth day). Hoarseness of voice, conjunctivitis (red and watery eyes), photophobia may appear.

Three days later, a patchy rash of pink-red color appears on the body. The spots increase, sometimes merge. The mucous membranes of the mouth may be affected (white spots appear on the inner surface of the cheeks).

The measles rash first appears behind the ears, on the scalp, face, and neck. Further - on the torso and upper arms, then - on the legs and lower arms. Unlike an allergic one, a measles rash does not itch at all: even if you scratch actively, this will lead to a short-term itching that lasts no more than half an hour.

3. When should I get vaccinated?

The first vaccine is administered at the age of 12 months, since by this age the child usually loses the protective maternal antibodies obtained during pregnancy. The second vaccine is given at the age of 6, as this is the time of school entry (or preparation for school).

If a person received two vaccines, then the effectiveness is about 97-99%, but if there was only one dose - about 85-90%.

Permanent immunity after the introduction of the measles vaccine begins to develop after three to four weeks in adults and after two to three weeks in children.

4. Is the measles vaccine safe?

Sean Gallup/Getty ImagesVaccination cannot cause disease or death. But after vaccination, a reaction to the vaccine may develop: within two weeks there may be an increased or decreased temperature, a slight rash.

With a tendency to allergic reactions, a rash may appear in the first hours after vaccination. All unpleasant phenomena disappear within a few days. The vaccine virus is not transmitted to others: it is impossible to catch measles from a vaccinated person.

In Ukraine, a complex vaccine against measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) is used - both in private and public medical institutions.

The vaccine is certified and meets all international standards. Each batch of vaccine is checked, so it is impossible to meet low-quality ones.

Even if the conditions for transportation or storage of the vaccine were violated, this will not cause any side effects - it will simply not provide adequate protection.

5. Can I get measles again?

People who have been ill with a typical form of measles are not re-infected, since immunity to infection is persistent and lasts throughout life.

6. Is there a cure for measles?

Unfortunately no. Doctors can help patients avoid the worst complications (blindness, pneumonia) by providing good nutrition and adequate fluids.

For ear and eye infections, doctors may prescribe antibiotics. Vitamin A is also often prescribed because measles depletes the body of this vitamin.

7. Why do many parents refuse vaccinations?

One common myth that some parents believe is that vaccination is responsible for sudden infant deaths. The fact is that most cases of infant mortality are recorded at the age of 2-4 months, which coincides with the vaccination.

But the researchers did not prove this connection, but found that the cause of sudden infant death may be the smoking of parents or the habit of the baby to sleep on his stomach face down. In this position, it is more difficult for the child to breathe, and breathing may stop.

Absurd are the rumors that the state and doctors earn money on vaccinating children, and children suffer in the process. It is the duty of doctors to provide the population with vaccinations, but they do not receive a bonus or other monetary remuneration for this. The state assumes all the protection of the population from infections and provides free vaccination according to the calendar.

Another myth is that mercury vaccines cause autism.

As the doctors explain, the preservative ethyl mercury protects the vaccine from germs. One dose of the vaccine contains 5 micrograms of ethyl mercury. For an infant, a safe amount of mercury is 6 micrograms, and the substance is excreted from the body after a week. There is much more ethyl mercury, for example, in canned tuna - 165 mcg, in boiled salmon and shrimp - 27 mcg.

8. Will measles ever be completely eradicated?

Theoretically, the measles virus could someday be completely wiped off the face of the planet. After all, it fits the profile of eradicable diseases: only people, not animals, carry it, so you don’t have to destroy the whole species; we have an effective vaccine; we can accurately diagnose the disease.

The global news on this front is good news: according to the WHO, in 2017, about 85% of all children in the world received their first measles vaccine before the age of one, compared with only 72% in 2000.

But this is not enough to completely eradicate the disease. Although most outbreaks to date are in Africa and Asia, as we see in the Americas and Europe, measles could return if a sufficiently large number of people refuse to be vaccinated.

Therefore, many European countries have begun to introduce fines and sanctions against those who do not vaccinate their children. Will it help? Wait and see…

Please bring your children! Do not endanger their lives and the lives of others!

After suffering measles and scarlet fever, most children, as a rule, have strong immunity. In the course of the disease, the body acquires the ability to resist infection, produces a special weapon, which henceforth remains in its arsenal for life. Meeting with the causative agent of this infection becomes safe, because the body already “knows” how to deal with it, and is able to resist the microbe.

Children rarely get sick again with scarlet fever, and even less often with measles. Repeated measles can occur in a child if the first time he was sick very easily. So, for example, it happened with Cyril. Last year there were several cases of measles in the house where he lives. In connection with the contact, the district nurse vaccinated him and his sister Valya: they were injected with anti-measles gamma globulin.

The sister warned that the vaccine does not give a 100% guarantee against the disease, but if measles does occur, it will proceed easily and will not cause complications. But "real" measles can be a serious danger for very young children.

Three-year-old Valya after a while nevertheless fell ill with measles. But her temperature was elevated only one day. A rash appeared the day before, which lasted for three days and then disappeared. Runny nose and slight cough also quickly passed. The girl's health was slightly disturbed, she spent only 4 days in bed.

Kirill, who at that time was 8 months old, fell ill after Valya, and everything worked out well for him.

A year later, Valya and Kirill were visiting their grandmother with their mother.

We have measles! - Grandma's neighbor warned.

But this did not frighten my mother: she knew that they get measles once. And I did not see the need to either leave or tell the local doctor about what had happened.

Not even two weeks had passed after a fun Sunday at a party, as Kirill fell ill. He developed a cough and a runny nose, reddened eyes, it hurt to look at the bright light. And on the fourth day of his illness, his mother saw on his face, and then all over his body, a rash already familiar to her. Kirill had measles again. Valya did not fall ill again, although she was in contact twice: the first time with her grandmother and the second time with Kirill who fell ill.

The children were equally vaccinated for the first time, and both suffered mild measles. What's the matter? Age played a role.

The body of an infant is less capable of developing immunity. Observations show that children who have had a mild, so-called “mitigated” measles up to a year, do not receive reliable immunity. Therefore, with repeated contacts, they are again recommended to administer gamma globulin. Older children, even after mild measles, as a rule, remain resistant to its pathogen.

Repeated cases of scarlet fever used to be very rare, but now they have become more frequent. The second time ill with scarlet fever are mainly those children in whom the first time the disease proceeded easily. Over the past 15-20 years, scarlet fever has significantly changed its character and in most cases it is easier than it was before; sometimes its course is so atypical that at first the disease is not even noticed, and the child carries it on his feet.

As the incidence of these mild illnesses increased, so did the likelihood of a recurrence of the infection.

Many scientists attribute the increase in recurrence of scarlet fever to the widespread introduction of antibiotics, in particular penicillin, into the practice of treating this disease. Penicillin contributes to the rapid destruction of the causative agent of the disease - hemolytic streptococcus. The duration of the disease is reduced, and as soon as the forces of the microbe act less, then the resistance that arises in the body is also less.

It should not be thought that immunity is not developed. Some degree of stability arises, but in the future, under the influence of any unfavorable factors, it can drop sharply. Such adverse factors can be other infectious diseases (flu, measles, tuberculosis), injuries, and surgical operations. Sudden overwork, prolonged lack of sleep, excessive cooling, malnutrition can lead to a decrease in immunity.

They reduce the body's defenses and chronic diseases, especially chronic inflammatory processes in the oral cavity and nasopharynx (carious teeth, adenoids, chronic tonsillitis, sinusitis). Such foci of infection maintain a state of increased sensitivity of the body to various pathogens, and especially to hemolytic streptococcus, the causative agent of scarlet fever. In children suffering from such diseases, repeated scarlet fever also occurs much more often.

A classic example is the story of twelve-year-old Zhenya. Among the children lying in the ward, he attracted special attention by the fact that he fell ill with scarlet fever for the third time. This happens very rarely. With the help of parents, the doctor restored in detail the circumstances of previous diseases.

The first time Zhenya suffered from scarlet fever at the age of one and a half. Scarlet fever proceeded easily, without complications. But soon the boy fell ill with measles. He suffered this disease hard: complications developed - pneumonia and purulent inflammation of the ears. Zhenya was ill for a long time. Just started to recover - catarrh of the upper respiratory tract and again a complication on the ears.

Finally, that too was over. But the boy was out of luck again. The elder brother fell ill with scarlet fever, and Zhenya, who was considered invulnerable and therefore not protected from contact, became infected again.

After repeated scarlet fever, the boy had a subfebrile temperature for a long time in the range of 37.1-37.3 degrees. Apparently, it was associated with poor condition of the nasopharynx; Subsequently, Zhenya often had the flu, catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, and tonsillitis. At the age of five, he was diagnosed with chronic tonsillitis, and at six, due to frequent tonsillitis, he had to have his tonsils removed.

At the age of seven, Zhenya entered school. In addition, he studied music and a foreign language. The boy studied well, but there was no free time at all. Public assignments also appeared: he designed first a classroom, and later a school-wide wall newspaper.

Zhenya was almost never outdoors, he went to bed late. The boy turned pale, began to stoop, his appetite worsened.

The sixth grade of the general school, the seventh - musical. It is necessary to prepare for the graduation concert, study hard in all subjects (they scold at home for fours!), Learn French poetry. Zhenya has had a difficult spring...

In April, his desk mate fell ill with a sore throat. And soon Zhenya also fell ill. The local doctor suggested that he had scarlet fever. The parents didn't believe it. The boy was taken to the clinic, the diagnosis of the local doctor was confirmed. Zhenya was infected, no doubt, from a boy whose scarlet fever was mild, in the form of a sore throat, and was not detected.

Thus, each recurrence of scarlet fever was preceded by circumstances that weakened the body and led to a decrease in immunity. Contact with a patient with scarlet fever in such conditions became dangerous again.

How to prevent recurrence? First of all, it is necessary to increase the body's natural defenses in every possible way. Make sure that the child’s daily routine combines work and rest reasonably, so that he walks every day, eats properly and regularly.

Do you pay enough attention to the condition of the child's teeth and nasopharynx? Carious teeth, tonsillitis, sinusitis weaken the body and create the ground for acute diseases.

There is no fatal predisposition to recurrent measles and scarlet fever. But they are more often characteristic of weakened, unseasoned children. The conclusion suggests itself: it is necessary to temper the child.

- Candidate of Medical Sciences L. A. Popova

Top 10 measles myths: everything you didn't know about the disease

Top 10 Measles Myths

Myth number 1: there can be no measles epidemics, the disease was successfully overcome in the last century

Myth #2: Measles is not dangerous

Myth #3: It's better to get sick than get vaccinated

Myth #4: Only children need the measles vaccine.

Not true. If a person for any reason was not vaccinated in childhood, then it must be done at any age. At risk are employees of medical and educational institutions, people who travel frequently.

Myth #5: Hygiene can prevent measles

This is not true. Many believe that the cause of the development of infectious diseases in unsanitary conditions. Therefore, as a preventive measure, you can count on hygiene. This is erroneous, since the measles pathogen persists in the air for up to 2 hours.

Myth #6: One shot is enough and boosters are not necessary.

Myth #7: People born in 1957 don't need to be vaccinated.

Myth #8: Measles vaccines cause allergic reactions, seizures and autism

Partially true. The vaccine can cause an allergic reaction in a child who is allergic to chicken protein.

The link between the measles vaccine and autism was discussed 20 years ago. Dr. Andrew Wakefield published in The Lancet the results of his research, which showed that children developed autism and intestinal infections after measles vaccinations. But the scientific community questioned the doctor's conclusions, because only 12 children took part in the study. Subsequently, causal relationships have not been proven.

Myth #9: Measles is cured with vitamin A

Myth #10: Measles vaccines are completely safe.

Partially true. No vaccine is 100% safe. In the process of vaccination, live microbes of alien origin are introduced into the human body. No doctor can predict how the body of a particular person will react to a vaccination.

At the same time, vaccination against measles has been carried out for a long time and the quality of vaccines is under constant control. Therefore, the safety of the measles vaccine is higher than that of other vaccines.

Key facts to know about measles

Measles is a highly contagious viral infectious disease. This means that the disease is considered extremely contagious.

Symptoms of the disease may appear within a few days after infection. But the incubation period of the disease is from 7 to 17 days.

Measles can be treated at home if the course of the disease is not complicated. Symptomatic treatment is used: paracetamol or ibuprofen bring down the temperature, take vitamins to maintain the body's immune forces, take cough mixtures, etc.

m.news.bigmir.net

Corey should be feared by those who were born in the 80s and 90s

5 important questions about the virus that attacked Ukraine.

According to the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health, 3382 people fell ill in 2017, of which 2558 were children.

1. How does infection occur?

Measles is a highly contagious severe viral disease. Anyone who has not been vaccinated or has not had measles is at risk.

As Dr. Yevgeny Komarovsky writes in his blog, this infection is characterized by almost 100% susceptibility: if a person who has not had measles before meets a patient, the probability of catching the infection is extremely high.

Measles is transmitted by airborne droplets. The virus remains active in the air or on surfaces for up to 2 hours. So, one cougher is enough to infect an entire class at school or a subway car.

The measles virus itself enters the human body through the mucous membranes of the eyes and upper respiratory tract. The incubation period is 8-10 days. But sometimes it lasts up to three weeks.

The symptoms of measles, according to Dr. Komarovsky, are reminiscent of acute respiratory infections: fever, headache, cough, runny nose. There may be tearing and conjunctivitis. These symptoms last 2-3 days, and then a rash appears - pink spots that spread from the face to the legs.

2. Is it possible to get sick again?

The measles vaccine is an artificial infection of a child with a virus, but very weakened. Approximately 10% of children from 6 to 20 days after vaccination may experience mild reactions in the form of fever, and sometimes the appearance of conjunctivitis and mild rash. These symptoms persist for 2-3 days, after which everything goes well. The chances of getting measles again are very small and do not exceed 0.5-1%.

Vaccination, according to the vaccination schedule, is carried out with a combined live vaccine against measles, rubella and mumps at the age of 12 months, revaccination - at six years.
Adults also receive two vaccines a month apart. If a person received his two vaccines, then the effectiveness is about 97-99%, if there was only one dose, the effectiveness level is about 85-90%.

3. Why do already vaccinated people get sick?

According to the Ministry of Health, among those who fell ill with measles were also vaccinated against the disease. How did it happen? According to doctor Natalya Nikolaeva, there are several reasons for this.

“I have vague suspicions that some of them are not actually vaccinated, they just bought a vaccination mark at one time,” Natalia Nikolaeva writes on her facebook page.

Another reason, according to the doctor, is that not all vaccinated people develop full-fledged immunity after vaccination, since this depends on the individual characteristics of a person's immunity.

“According to official statistics, after a single vaccination, immunity is not developed or insufficient in 15% of cases. After two scheduled vaccinations, about 3% have no immunity, ”says the doctor.

- The trouble is with those who were born in the 80-90s. Then there were big problems with the availability of the vaccine, its immunogenicity, compliance with storage rules, when the drug could lose its effectiveness. - told "KP" in Ukraine" at the beginning of last year, the chief children's immunologist in Kiev, Fedor Lapiy. https://kp.ua/life/568747-kor-na-vydumky-khytra

- Unfortunately, many modern 25-35-year-old Ukrainians do not have immunity - either they were not vaccinated, or with only one dose.

4. How to treat it?

Most deaths are due to complications such as blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhoea, ear infections and severe respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia.

- Approximately 1 person out of 1-2 thousand dies, - Fedor Lapiy assures.

Treatment for measles: bed rest, plenty of fluids, antipyretics, cold and sore throat remedies, expectorants, vitamins, good nutrition. If the disease gives complications, then the treatment is carried out in a hospital.

5. Where to get vaccinated?

According to the city authorities, there are no problems with measles vaccines. This was announced by the deputy head of the Kiev city administration Mykola Povoroznik.

“The vaccine is available in sufficient quantities. I want to emphasize that this is the Belgian Priorix vaccine. Vaccination will be carried out in polyclinics where vaccination rooms are equipped, and they are available in almost all polyclinics,” the official said during a briefing.

Vaccination rooms, according to Povoroznyk, will work daily, including in the evenings and on weekends. The cost of the vaccine for children under 18 is free of charge, for adults it ranges from 250 to 350 hryvnia.

There is an opinion
You can also get vaccinated during an epidemic

To our question about whether it is possible to get vaccinated against measles when everyone around is already sick and the epidemic has almost begun, Fedor Lapiy, the chief children's immunologist in Kiev, answered.

- Vaccination against measles at such a time is not only possible, but necessary. In the event that a person is already infected, he has acute manifestations - a fever, a rash, then the vaccine will not bring harm, but there will be no benefit from it, - Fedor Lapiy told KP in Ukraine.

It is impossible to catch measles a second time

Measles is an acute infectious disease, explains the chief freelance specialist of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine in the specialty "infectious diseases" Professor Sergey Kramarev. The virus is transmitted by airborne droplets and can "move" up to 10-15 meters. The susceptibility of people who have not had measles or have not been vaccinated against it is almost 100%.

According to the specialist, measles will give itself away with fever, nasal congestion, cough, conjunctivitis, rashes on the skin of the face, trunk, arms and legs. The rash appears on the second or fifth day, after it disappears, age spots remain on the body for another one or two weeks, which then disappear without a trace. The most common complications are pneumonia, otitis media, bronchitis, stomatitis, very rarely measles can be complicated even by inflammation of the brain. It is impossible to get measles a second time: immunity remains for life.

Treatment - bed rest, drinking plenty of water, rinsing the mouth after eating with solutions of furatsilina or other antiseptics, taking vitamins A and C, antihistamines. At temperatures above 38.5-39 degrees, antipyretic drugs are prescribed. In severe cases, detoxification solutions are administered intravenously, and antibiotics are prescribed for complications.

Sergei Kramarev believes that the only means of preventing measles are vaccinations, which are given to children at the age of one and six years.

vecherniy.kharkov.ua

Attention - measles: 10 facts, the knowledge of which can save a life

In 2017, parents very often turned to pediatricians, as children began to get measles one after another. The main reason for the rapid spread of this disease among children, doctors consider the irresponsible attitude of parents to vaccinations.

1. Measles - the plague of the XIX-XX centuries!

At this time, the disease began to take many lives not only of children, but also of adults. The situation was saved by the vaccine, which proved to be a reliable defender against measles. To date, doctors advise people to be tested for the presence of antibodies to measles in the body, and in case of their absence, to re-vaccinate.

2. Measles is an infectious viral disease!

That is why measles most often affects those who have not been vaccinated against this disease. It is very easy to get infected, which makes it difficult to prevent. The virus is transmitted by communication and easily enters people's homes through ventilation pipes. The older the person, the more severe the measles. The incubation period is 8-14 days, after which rashes appear.

3. Measles starts with a cough and a high fever!

Further, all signs of SARS are observed, and on 4-5 days white dots appear in the oral cavity. Attempts to get rid of the temperature become useless, and a rash in the form of white dots begins to spread throughout the body from top to bottom. The rash begins to disappear only by the fourth day and leaves behind age spots, which gradually disappear.

4. There is no definite cure for measles!

Therefore, the disease itself is not treated, but only the symptoms. The main focus is on bed rest, antihistamines, fever control, and drinking plenty of fluids. Obligatory point is the observance of hygiene of the oral cavity and eyes, as well as the intake of antiviral drugs. Antibacterial drugs are prescribed for repeated threats.

5. Complications after measles are dangerous!

Unlike many other diseases, measles is extremely dangerous. Even after very good treatment, the patient may develop lymphadenitis, inflammation of the brain and lungs, otitis media, convulsions, and so on. There are also many officially registered deaths after measles.

6. You can get measles several times!

Many people think that you can get measles only once, but this opinion is erroneous. If the first time the patient suffered measles easily, and the temperature lasted only one day, then you can get sick a second time. However, in the case when measles was severe, then the body develops strong immunity and it is simply impossible to get measles again.

7. The only protection against measles is vaccination!

According to the plan, the first vaccination among the population is carried out for one-year-old babies and only by the age of six it is given a second time. The fact is that the immune system in young children has not yet been formed and in the future the effect of vaccination may disappear. By the age of six, immunity is getting stronger, and vaccination becomes more effective.

8. Vaccinating Moms Helps Their Babies!

If the mother has been vaccinated in a timely manner, then this is a huge plus for the child. While the baby is in the womb, the mother gives him immunity to measles. This effect lasts about 3-4 months from the birth of the baby. Most importantly, the mother should be vaccinated before pregnancy.

9. Measles can cross the placenta!

Such cases occur at any stage of pregnancy and have negative consequences for the unborn baby. Measles at an early stage causes premature birth, malformations and fetal death. Measles at a late stage is fraught with premature birth, as well as infection of the child and further complications.

10. In the absence of vaccination, the child is isolated from the sick!

It doesn't matter why the child hasn't been vaccinated against measles, but you will have to be more careful about where he is. Try to avoid bringing your baby into contact with people who have measles. And children should be vaccinated against this disease no earlier than 14 days before visiting the foci of infection.

The longer you think about whether to get your baby vaccinated against measles, the more time you miss. Strive to protect your child from such a dangerous disease and keep your finger on the pulse of the news in the world of medicine. No matter how fashionable it is in the modern world to refuse vaccination, the main thing is to save the life of your child!

17.11.201616:21

Measles- an acute infectious disease characterized by a rise in temperature to 38-40 ° C, general intoxication, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes, nasopharynx, upper respiratory tract, and the gradual appearance of a rash.

The causative agent of measles- the virus is not stable in the external environment: it dies at room temperature within 5-6 hours, under the influence of sunlight, ultraviolet rays, when heated to 50˚ C.

Reservoir and source of infection- sick person. The contagiousness of the patient is 8-10 days.

natural susceptibility people is very high, after the disease develops immunity for life. Recurrent infections with measles are extremely rare.

The spread of the virus occurs by airborne droplets, with droplets of saliva, when sneezing, coughing, talking. With air flow, the virus can spread over a considerable distance. Infection can occur by inhaling the air in a room where a measles patient has been recently. If a person has not had measles or has not been vaccinated against this infection, then after contact with the patient, infection occurs in almost 100% of cases.

The high and universal susceptibility to measles, combined with the ease of transmission of the pathogen, causes its wide distribution, especially among children.

Recently, in connection with the mass measles immunization of children, adults have become increasingly sick with measles, a distinctive feature of the disease in adults is severe intoxication.

Clinical picture- the incubation (hidden) period is on average 9 days, the maximum is 21 days. There are three periods of infection:

Catarrhal period (period of inflammation);

The period of rashes;

The period of convalescence (recovery period).

catarrhal periodstarts abruptly. There are general malaise, headache, loss of appetite, sleep disturbance. The body temperature rises, in severe forms it reaches 39-40˚ C. From the first days of the disease, a runny nose with copious mucous secretions is noted. A dry cough develops, in children it often becomes rough, “barking”, hoarseness of voice, redness of the mucous eyelids, and photophobia appear.

In general, the catarrhal period lasts 3-5 days, in adults it sometimes drags on up to 6-8 days.

The period of the rash is characterized by the appearance of a confluent rash in the form of pink or red spots.

• On the first day, elements of the rash appear behind the ears, on the scalp, on the face and neck, and on the upper chest;
• On the second day of the rash, the rash covers the trunk and upper arms;
• On the third day, the elements of the rash appear on the lower extremities, and turn pale on the face.

The period of rash is accompanied by an increase in catarrhal phenomena - runny nose, cough, lacrimation, photophobia; body temperature is high.

convalescence period(recovery period) is manifested by an improvement in the general condition. The temperature normalizes, catarrhal symptoms gradually disappear. The elements of the rash fade and disappear. After its disappearance, peeling of the skin can be observed, mainly on the face.

Complications of measles- inflammation of the lungs, nasopharynx, conjunctiva, otitis media may develop.

If you or your child gets sick, you should:

Seek immediate medical attention;

Do not visit the clinic on your own, but wait for the doctor;

Before the arrival of the doctor, reduce contacts with relatives, acquaintances and other people to a minimum;

Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, using a handkerchief or tissue, wash your hands often with soap and water;

Use respiratory protection (for example, a mask or gauze bandage);

Do not self-medicate!

Measles prevention. Vaccination is a decisive, affordable and effective method of combating infection.

In accordance with the National Immunization Schedule, children are routinely vaccinated against measles at the age of 12 months and again at 6 years of age. Adults aged 18-35 years who have not had measles, have not been vaccinated before, or have no information about measles vaccination should also be vaccinated (immunization is carried out twice with an interval of at least 3 months between vaccinations).

Vaccination is required for all those who have been in contact with a measles patient who do not have reliable information about the vaccination against measles or past measles.

Measles vaccines provide reliable immunity that lasts more than 20 years. Vaccination prevents the development of measles, even if it is carried out during the worsening of the epidemic situation.

More recently, doctors began to think that they would soon be able to defeat measles - a virus that, having one hundred percent susceptibility, caused epidemics for many hundreds of years and was the main cause of death in young children. has already been able to achieve a twenty-fold reduction in mortality from this disease and planned to completely eliminate the risks of infection in several subordinate regions by 2020.

But humanity is not looking for easy ways. The general fashion among young mothers to refuse vaccination, propaganda of the imaginary danger of this procedure and simply the irresponsible attitude of young parents to protect their children, the lack of funds for free vaccinations from the governments of many states - all this endangers the health and lives of babies and adults around the world.

What is measles

This disease has been known since ancient times. Already in the ninth century, a detailed clinical description of the disease was compiled. But until the 20th century, no one knew whether measles was caused by a virus or a bacterium. D. Goldberger and A. Enderson in 1911 were able to prove that the disease is caused by a virus, and already in 1954 T. Peebles and D. Enders isolated an RNA virus that has a special shape of a sphere measuring 120230 nm and belongs to the family of paramyxoviruses.

How can you get infected

The measles virus is almost 100% contagious. A person who does not have immunity to this disease (who has not been vaccinated and has not previously been ill) has practically no chance of not becoming infected in case of contact with a sick person.

Infection from a sick person through the environment is transmitted to everyone around. The sick person, starting from the last days of the incubation period (two days before the onset of rashes) and the next four days, releases the measles virus during breathing, coughing, sneezing (by airborne droplets). Further, through the cells of the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx and respiratory tract, it enters the bloodstream and affects the lymph nodes, blood capillaries (white blood cells). The rash appears as a result of the death of capillary cells. Further, the syndrome develops, and bacterial complications are often encountered.

It should be noted that the causative agent of the measles virus cannot survive for a long time in the open air, objects and clothing. Although there are reported cases of infection through the ventilation system. It dies at room temperature after an average of two hours, and after thirty minutes it completely loses its ability to infect. The virus dies instantly when exposed to ultraviolet radiation and at high temperatures. Therefore, during an epidemic, there is no need to disinfect the premises.

Who gets sick and when

The main victims of measles are young children between the ages of two and five. Also, more and more often I register cases of the disease in adolescents 15-17 years old.

Adults become infected with measles much less frequently. But most likely, this is due to the fact that in adulthood, most often there is already immunity from vaccination or from a previous disease.

It is impossible to get measles again. Reported cases can be regarded as an erroneous diagnosis in the first disease or a serious violation in the functioning of the human immune system.

In Russia, the largest number of cases is observed in the spring-winter period, from late November to May, with a frequency of every two to four years.

Can a baby get sick

Newborns during the first three months of life have stable borrowed immunity from the mother, if she had been ill earlier. Children whose mothers did not get sick and were not vaccinated have no immunity, and they can get sick. It is also possible to infect an infant during childbirth during an illness of the mother.

Incubation period

Like most diseases, it has an incubation period in the body and measles. The virus does not manifest itself outwardly for 7-17 days. At this time, starting from the 3rd day of the incubation period, typical large multinucleated cells can be found in the spleen, tonsils, and lymph nodes only through a detailed analysis. Outwardly, the symptoms of the disease appear only after it enters the lymph nodes and enters the bloodstream.

Measles virus: symptoms

• a sharp rise in temperature to 38-40.5 degrees;
• dry cough;
• photophobia;
• headache;
• hoarseness or hoarseness of voice;
• disturbances of consciousness, delirium;
• disturbances in the work of the intestines;
• swelling of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract;
• symptoms of conjunctivitis: swelling of the eyelids, redness around the eyes;
• the appearance of red spots in the mouth - in the sky, the inner surface of the cheeks;
• on the second day of illness, small white spots appear on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity;
• the exanthema itself appears on the fourth or fifth day, its occurrence is characteristic on the face and neck, behind the ears, then on the body and on the folds of the arms, legs, fingers, palms and feet.

A measles rash is a special papules surrounded by a spot and tending to merge (this is what distinguishes it from rubella, in which the rash does not tend to merge). After the fourth day of the rash, when the virus is defeated, the rash gradually disappears: it darkens, becomes pigmented, and begins to peel off. Hyperpigmented areas with a rash will remain for another 1-2 weeks.

Measles in children

One of the most common and most dangerous childhood diseases is measles. The virus most often affects children of preschool and primary school age.

Before the production of vaccines was established in Russia and a free prevention program was launched, on average, one in four children died from this virus and its complications. Today, all relatively healthy children are vaccinated at one and six years of age (according to the national vaccination schedule). If the child is not vaccinated, the risk of getting sick when meeting with a carrier of the infection reaches one hundred percent. Vaccinated children either do not get sick at all, or endure the disease very easily.

The incubation period for an infected child can vary and averages 10 to 15 days. At this time, there are no symptoms of the disease, but two days before the onset of the clinical picture, the child will be contagious to others.

Most often, children are seriously ill. First, there are signs of a common acute (ARVI):

• temperature 38-40 degrees;
• strong dry cough;
• runny nose;
• weakness;
• lack of appetite;
• bad dream.

On the 3-5th day of illness, a rash begins to appear - small pink spots that merge with each other. In children, it occurs quickly and spreads throughout the body. During the appearance of the rash, the temperature, after a seemingly visible improvement, may begin to rise again.

In children between the ages of two and five, measles is especially dangerous. The child’s body, which has not yet grown stronger, slowly copes with the virus, and complications often arise due to the attached bacterial infection:

• otitis;
• bronchial pneumonia;
• blindness;
• encephalitis;
• severe inflammation of the lymph nodes;
• laryngitis.

It is because of these complications that it is so important to show the child to the doctor in time and control the course of the disease. Complications often begin to appear some time after the child is on the mend.

Measles in adults

Measles in adults is a rare disease. But if a person has already become infected, he cannot avoid problems. Adults after 20 years of age are seriously ill and for a long time. The acute period of the disease can last up to two weeks. Most often, the disease causes various complications, and there is also a high probability of attaching a bacterial infection.

Types of complications in adults:

• bacterial pneumonia;
• measles pneumonia;
• otitis;
• tracheobronchitis;
• disturbances in the work of the central nervous system;
• laryngitis;
• croup (stenosis of the larynx);
• hepatitis;
• lymphadenitis (inflammation of the lymph nodes);
• inflammation of the meninges - meningoencephalitis (40% of cases of the disease which ends in death).

Thus, we understand that measles, a virus that is commonly believed to be dangerous only for children, can cause serious illness in adults and even lead to disability or death.

Measles in pregnancy

It is easy to guess that a disease that causes so many problems cannot easily occur in a pregnant woman. But the greatest experiences for the expectant mother cause the possibility of problems for the baby. And not in vain.

Measles is the more dangerous for the fetus, the shorter the gestational age. In the first trimester, a sick woman with a probability of up to 20% will have a spontaneous miscarriage, or, even worse, the disease will lead to serious fetal malformations (oligophrenia, damage to the nervous system, etc.). Unfortunately, it is simply impossible to identify these defects on early ultrasound examinations of the fetus and even at the first screening, and women are often offered to have an abortion.

If a pregnant woman falls ill after the sixteenth week, the prognosis is much more reassuring. At this time, the placenta is already mature enough to fully protect the fetus from the mother's illness, so the likelihood of problems in the unborn child is quite low.

The danger reappears if the mother falls ill just before the birth. Not only will she simply not have enough strength for the birth itself due to the virus, but the risks of infecting the child during passage through the birth canal are very high. Of course, doctors today have all the means to save the life of a baby: resuscitation and potent antibiotics. And most likely, the child will be able to cure. But why take such a risk if there is an opportunity to protect yourself and the child in advance? It is necessary for every woman to take an analysis for antibodies to the measles virus even before planning a pregnancy. After all, if you take care of your health now and get vaccinated on time, then there will simply be no chance of getting sick during pregnancy.

Diagnostic methods

Most often, the diagnosis is made on the basis of clinical findings after the appearance of a characteristic measles rash. But it is possible in the laboratory to make a diagnosis earlier (or confirm it) by determining where the measles virus is located. Microbiology makes it possible to isolate virus cells from the blood, mucus of the mouth and nose, urine on the first day of the disease (even before the rash appears) and even at the end of the incubation period. Under a special microscope, you can see the characteristic luminous, with inclusions, giant oval cells.

Additionally, the patient may be prescribed:

• general analysis of urine and blood to exclude the attachment of a bacterial infection and the development of complications;
• a specific blood test for the detection of antibodies (serological analysis for IgG to the measles virus);
• chest x-ray or fluorography if measles pneumonia is suspected.

But in most cases, the diagnosis of the disease does not cause difficulties for the doctor and is performed without prescribing additional tests.

How to determine the level of IgG to the measles virus

After contact with a measles patient, each person begins to remember whether he himself was vaccinated or, maybe, was ill in childhood. And if you overlooked, missed and did not instill your own child on time? How to find out? There are also risks that the vaccine was stored incorrectly, and then such a gentle virus could die before it was introduced into the body.

Measles antibodies (IgG) can now be tested in every laboratory. This method allows you to be 100% sure whether a person has immunity to this disease.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for the measles virus. As with everyone, the doctor will provide symptomatic treatment that alleviates the condition and prevents the risks of complications. Usually prescribed:

• drugs that lower the temperature and relieve general malaise, pain, fever ("Ibuprofen", "Paracetamol");
• aerosols against inflammation and gargling with chamomile, "Chlorhexidine";
• mucolytics and expectorants for dry cough;
• to relieve symptoms of rhinitis and reduce the risk of developing otitis media - vasoconstrictor drops in the nose (up to 5 days) and washing with saline;
• to relieve irritation and itching from the rash, rinsing with Dilaxin is prescribed;
• for the treatment of conjunctivitis - "Albucid" and "Levomitsetin";
• to reduce the risk of developing blindness, patients are advised to take vitamin A during the entire period of illness;
• if pneumonia develops, antibiotics are prescribed.

Attention! In the treatment of measles, in no case should Aspirin be used, especially in the treatment of children under 16 years of age. This can lead to the development of Reye's syndrome - hepatic encephalopathy.

Prevention

At the age of one year, all children are vaccinated free of charge against the three most dangerous childhood infections from these diseases at the age of 5-6 years, before school. Doctors note that this vaccine is well tolerated by children, especially since it is given only to healthy children, so the risks of getting adverse reactions are minimal.

Everyone can easily verify that the vaccine has worked. To do this, you need to pass a special analysis some time after the injection. Antibodies to the measles virus are present if immunity has developed after vaccination.