An airborne disease which spreads easily through cough and sneeze is called measles that usually affects children. Saliva or nasal secretion may also be factors to transmit measles from one person to another. It primarily develops in areas of Africa and Asia. Any surfaces in the house, like doorknobs and desktops can be the source of the virus for up to two hours.
Children and adults with weak immune system are the common target of measles. It can lead to death among children.
Symptoms of measles
Measles may appear within 14 days of contact to virus. The person may suffer the symptoms like, cough, pyrexia, red eyes, light sensitivity, runny nose, muscle ache, aching throat, and white spots interior area of the mouth. One classic sign of measles is widespread of skin rash.
Complications associated with measles:
- Ear infection
- Bronchitis
- Blindness
- Severe diarrhea
- Miscarriage
- Decrease in blood platelets
Vaccination is generally not given before the age of 12 months, because infants respond inadequately to vaccine. Vaccination rates have been high enough to make measles relatively uncommon.
There is no specific treatment for measles, but people with uncomplicated measles recover with rest and supportive treatment.
Parents believe that measles vaccine can cause autism; however numerous studies proven that there is no link between autism and immunizations.
Vitamin A deficiency is a risk factor for measles. Less vitamin A have higher risk of catching the virus.
There is no prescribed medicine to treat measles. Symptoms and virus will just disappear within two to three weeks. The doctor may recommend the following:
- Helps to relieve fever and muscle pain.
- It helps boost immune system.
- Plenty of fluids. Drink six to eight glasses of water a day.
- It eases cough and sore throat.
- Vitamin A supplements.
Prevention to measles
In this case, prevention is better than cure. If someone has measles inside the house, remember these precautions to protect other members of the family.
- Wash your hands more often.
- Clean hands with sanitizer if there is no available soap.
- Cover your mouth and nose with tissue when coughing or sneezing.
- Try to avoid close contact to people with measles.
- Measles are highly contagious virus, people with measles shouldn’t return to activities in which they interact with other people during this period.
- Persons who hasn’t fully vaccinated may acquire the infection and virus from that person and have measles. They must be vaccinated as soon as possible.