Measles Reactions

Measles is a highly contagious infectious diseases transmitted by airborne droplets and spread from person to person. People usually don't take measles as a very serious disease, but it can be very fatal. Ten days after getting infected, the person develops the adverse effects like high fever, rashes, runny nose, watery eyes and cough lasting for less then two weeks. One out of ten children with measles is infected by ear infections. Also one out of twenty children with measles suffers from pneumonia. And one child every thousand with measles gets encephalitis (which leaves the child deaf or mentally retarded.) One or Two out of thousand suffering from measles dies from it. Measles also cause pregnant women to have a miscarriage or premature birth.

Measles vaccine is given alone but usually it is given together with mumps and rubella vaccines in a shot called MMR which is usually given between 12 and 15 months of age protecting most of the children for the rest of their life. Measles vaccination can be taken in three forms: (1) by itself, (2) measles-rubella combination, and (3) measles-mumps-rubella combination. It is effective and safe in all combinations. Mild infections produced by the vaccination are not transmitted to another person.

Pregnant women, who are considering pregnancy within the next 3 months, should not take the combined measles-rubella or combined Measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Single women should not become pregnant for at least a month after vaccination. Children with minor illness or severe fever can be vaccinated as soon as they have recovered. People having allergy to eggs should not receive the vaccine. Measles virus vaccine should not be given to people with suppressed immune systems.

Based on the symptoms the diagnosis of measles is conducted. The symptoms are unique and include cough, runny nose, fever, and red, watery eyes, also sensitivity to light. The treatment of measles includes bedrest, maintenance of intake of fluids, and medication for fever and headache. Antibiotics used for prevention may increase the risk of severe secondary bacterial infection and no antiviral drugs are available for measles.

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