What is measles?
measles is a contagious infection caused by a virus. Before measles immunization is encouraged, measles is one of the endemic diseases that causes the most deaths every year.
This disease is caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family which is usually transmitted through direct contact with patients or by air. The virus infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body.
Specific symptoms of this disease are reddish skin rashes that appear 7-14 days after exposure and can last for 4-10 days. In children, this disease can cause serious deadly complications if not treated properly. Therefore, immediately consult a doctor or nearest health care provider if you or your child has this disease.
How common is measles?
This disease is most common in children. However, this disease can also occur in adults if when your children have never experienced it. You can reduce the chances of getting this disease by reducing the risk factors that exist. Consult your doctor for more information.
Signs & symptoms
What are the characteristics and symptoms of measles?
Symptoms of measles often occur around one to two weeks after a person is infected with a virus. The earliest symptoms of measles appear are high fever up to 40 centigrade, followed by red and watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, dry cough, sensitive to light, fatigue, and decreased appetite.
Two or three days after the initial measles symptoms appear, the following symptoms of measles follow, which appear grayish white spots in the mouth and throat.
After that, a brownish red rash appears that starts from around the ears, head, neck, and then spreads throughout the body.
This rash appears about four days after the initial measles symptoms appear and can last for 5 to 6 days. While high fever due to this disease will usually begin to fall on the third day after the rash appears.
There may be signs and symptoms of measles not mentioned above. If you have concerns about a symptom of measles, immediately consult your doctor.
When should I see a doctor?
Contact your doctor if you think you or your child is in contact with the virus that causes this disease or if you or your child has a rash resembling this disease. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant and feel symptoms of measles because this disease can affect your fetus.
If you have signs or symptoms of measles as mentioned above or other questions, consult your doctor. Each person's body is different. Always consult a doctor to deal with your health condition.
Also, contact your doctor immediately if your child shows symptoms like the following:
- High fever is getting worse
- It's hard to wake up
- Daze or keep delirious
- Difficulty breathing and her complaints don't improve after you clean her nose
- Complains with severe headaches
- Removing yellow liquid from the eyes
- Still complaining of fever after the fourth day of the rash appears
- Looks very pale and weak
- Complaining from earache
Complications
If handled properly, complications of measles in infants and children that lead to death are rare. Morbili virus in the body can spread throughout all blood vessels. When attacking digestion, children will vomit and have severe diarrhea.
The most worrying thing is lung complications such as pneumonia. Children will have difficulty breathing and shortness of breath. Another fatal complication is encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain which causes the child to cramp and experience a decrease in consciousness. Children can also experience bleeding and thrombocytopenia, although this is rare.
In general, your child will be at risk of complications if:
- Still under one year old.
- Has a weak immune system.
- Having certain medical conditions, such as chronic illness.
Cause
What causes measles?
This disease is caused by a highly contagious virus. Transmission can occur if inhaled splashes of water in the air from sneezing, coughing, or saliva containing viruses from sufferers. In addition, touching items contaminated with viruses can also cause you to experience this disease.
The virus that causes this disease can survive in the air and on the surface for more than 2 hours. That is why, if you touch an item that is exposed to the virus, then accidentally rub your eyes, stick your hands to your nose or mouth, you might get infected.
This disease can also be transmitted by infected people from 4 days before the onset of symptoms for up to 4 days after symptoms have begun to subside.
In many cases, if the disease is not treated properly it can be an endemic disease that causes many deaths, especially among malnourished children.
Although this disease is more common in children, you can also be infected with this virus if you have not previously been exposed to this disease or have not been immunized.
Risk factors
Who is at risk for measles?
There are many factors that increase your risk of developing this disease, including:
Children. This disease most often attacks infants and toddlers because they generally do not have a strong immune system.
Not yet measles immunization. If you have never had measles immunization, you are at risk of developing this disease later on.
Traveling abroad. If you travel abroad where the disease often occurs, you are more at risk of developing the disease as well.
Lack of vitamin A.
Not having a risk factor does not mean you cannot get this disease, this factor is just a reference. Consult your doctor for more information.
Treatment
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.
How to treat measles?
Basically the principle of handling this disease is with supportive therapy. Because the virus that causes this disease is a self limiting disease, so that the disease can ideally heal by itself.
However, you still have to control the development of the virus in the child's body, so as not to spread to other vital organs, such as the brain and lungs. Here are steps you can take to treat measles in infants and children.
1. A lot of rest
The key to overcoming measles in infants is by increasing rest. Therefore, make sure your child reduces physical activity and play for a while.
By getting enough rest, your child's immune system will be even stronger to fight the virus infection that multiplies in his body.
2. Limit contact with the surrounding environment
People affected by this disease must be "exiled" temporarily because this disease is highly contagious. Therefore, it is important for you to limit your child from contact with the surrounding environment, so that the illness that he suffered does not spread to his friends. If your child is in school, ask permission not to go to school until the fever and rash are gone.
Also separate children affected by this disease from their siblings, especially if you have children who have not received measles immunization. For family members or contacts who are vulnerable, vaccination or human immunoglobulin can be given for prevention. It's also a good idea for children to be given a mask to limit transmission through coughing or sneezing.
No less important, separate all bathing and eating equipment that your child uses when he is exposed to this disease. This is done in order to avoid transmission of measles to infants and children through indirect contact.
3. Pay attention to food intake
Paying attention to nutritious food intake plays an important role in overcoming measles in infants and children. Eat balanced nutritious foods from fruits and vegetables that contain lots of vitamins.
Unfortunately, measles in infants and children often makes it difficult for them to eat because the symptoms of this disease can sometimes irritate the esophagus.
Even so don't worry, you can work around this by providing food in the form of porridge. Make sure you also avoid fried foods and cold foods and drinks for a while.
4. Don't be afraid to take a shower
Many people believe that measles in infants and children should not get water because it can make red spots worse on the skin. As a result, not a few parents do not allow their children to take a bath.
Even though in fact, after the child has no fever, you can bathe your child. This is done to reduce itching due to the rash while providing comfort for your little one.
When taking a shower, use soap that does not irritate the problematic skin. After bathing, dry your baby's body with a soft cloth and give the body a special itchy powder.
5. Drink lots of water
Measles in infants and children raises the initial symptoms of high fever. Well high fever experienced by children when attacked by this disease will generally drain the body's fluid and electrolytes.
Therefore, give enough drink to maintain body fluids and replace lost fluids if children also experience vomiting and diarrhea when they experience this disease.
6. Take painkillers
To reduce fever and reduce pain, your child can take fever-lowering medications and pain relievers such as aspirin (paracetamol) and ibuprofen.
But make sure you don't give aspirin if your child is not over 16 years old. Giving aspirin to children under the age of 16 can cause children to get Reye's syndrome. Antibiotic use is rarely done unless the doctor finds another infection that is experienced by the child.
In addition, supplementation of vitamin A is also able to help accelerate recovery if you or your child has this disease. The dose of vitamin A given is:
- Infants less than 6 months old 50,000 IU / day PO are given 2 doses.
- Ages 6-11 months 100,000 IU / day PO 2 doses.
- Age above 1 year 200,000 IU / day PO 2 dose.
- *Children with signs of vitamin A deficiency, the first 2 doses according to age, followed by the third dose according to age given 2-4 weeks later.
Always consult a doctor before taking additional supplements. Because the dosage and rules for using each supplement may be different.
What are the usual tests for measles?
Your doctor will diagnose your baby's illness based on the characteristics of the rash that is in the form of a bluish-white small spot with a bright red base (Koplik's spot) in the inner layer of his cheek. If needed, a blood test can confirm whether the rash really is a symptom of this disease or not.
Treatment at home
What are some home remedies that can be done to treat measles?
Some lifestyle changes and home remedies that can help you overcome measles in infants and children include:
Control on time to see the progress of the disease and your health condition.
Follow all the advice your doctor gives you well,
Cover your mouth while coughing, if necessary, always use a mask.
Clean your hands regularly.
Use saline eye drops for irritation and glasses to protect your eyes from exposure to blinding light.
If there are questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.
Prevention
How to prevent measles in infants and children?
The most effective way to prevent this disease is by immunizing mumps-measles-rubella (MMR), aka immunization against measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles).
If you are an adult who has never received measles immunization or have never contracted the disease before, it is important that you get this immunization immediately.
While women planning a pregnancy but have never received measles immunization should consult a doctor first, because the vaccine cannot be given during pregnancy. Keep in mind that measles in pregnant women can endanger the fetus.
MMR immunization can be given to all children aged 9 months to less than 15 years of age through injections at a dose of 0.5 milliliters.
The government provides free rubella measles immunization services every August-September. You can get rubella measles immunization in schools, Puskesmas, Posyandu and other health facilities.
In general, immunization is safe for everyone. However, pregnant women, people who have a weakened immune system due to leukemia, tuberculosis, and those who are allergic to certain components of the vaccine, are not recommended for immunization.
If there are questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.