Measles - Medtick
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Measles

What is it?

A highly contagious viral infection (because one can catch the condition 1-4 days before a rash appears and for about five days afterwards).

  • Individuals are contagious 1-2 days before the onset of symptoms.
  • The incubation period from exposure to onset of measles symptoms ranges from 7 to 14 days (average, 10-12 days).
  • The typical course of uncomplicated measles from onset of symptoms and to end of fever and rash is typically 7-10 days.
  • Immunocompromised individuals can be contagious throughout the duration of the illness.

It mainly affects:

  • Babies younger than one year old
  • Children with a poor diet
  • Children with a weakened immune system
  • Teenagers and adults

Modified measles

  • Modified measles is a milder form of measles that occurs in individuals who have received serum immunoglobulin after their exposure to the measles virus (immunisation).
  • Similar but milder symptoms and signs may still occur, but the incubation period may be as long as 21 days.

Medscape

Diagnosis Tests

  • Positive serological test for measles immunoglobulin (Ig) M
  • IgG seroconversion
  • Significant rise in measles IgG level by any standard serologic assay
  • Isolation of measles virus
  • Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) identification of measles virus RNA from a a clinical specimen

Gastanaduy P, Goodson J. Rubeola/measles. In: Nemhauser J, Halsey E, LaRocque R, et al, eds. CDC Yellow Book 2024: Health Information for International Travel. New York, NY:Oxford University Press; 2023. Available at: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2024/infections-diseases/rubeola-measles. Accessed: April 17, 2024.

Countries affected are:

North America

  • Canada
  • United States of America (Alaska, Hawaii, Oahu, Maui)

South America

  • Brazil
  • Chile (Easter Island)

Europe & Russia

  • Albania
  • Belarus
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bosnia Herzegovina
  • Bulgaria
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France (Corsica)
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Greece (Corfu, Crete, Rhodes)
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy (Sardinia, Sicily)
  • Kosovo
  • Lithuania
  • Netherlands
  • Norway (Svalbard)
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Azores, Madeira)
  • Romania
  • Russian Federation
  • Serbia
  • Slovakia
  • Spain (Spain Majorca, Minorca, Balearic Islands, Ibiza, Formentera, Canary Islands, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura)
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Africa

  • Chad
  • Ethiopia
  • Madagascar
  • Mauritius
  • Nigeria
  • South Africa
  • Tunisia

Middle East

  • Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories
  • Syria
  • Yemen

Asia

  • Malaysia (Sarawak, Sabah)
  • Mongolia
  • Myanmar
  • India
  • Japan
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Taiwan
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam

Australasia and Pacific

  • American Samoa
  • Australia
  • Federated States Of Micronesia
  • Fiji
  • Marshall Islands
  • New Zealand
  • Samoa
  • Tokelau
  • Tonga
Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs can be used under medical supervision, however Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs is not recommended in asthma or asthma type symptoms. Check with your Medical doctor/Pharmacist when one can have any type of fever reducing medication to make sure it suitable for you.

Cause

  • Virus: Measles virus (Morbillivirus from the virus family Paramyxoviridae)
  • Direct contact:
    • If infected person is of close proximity, talking, sneezes, cough, kissing and one breathes the virus in.
    • Not from animals

Medication

  • Ribavirin

Risk factors for measles virus infection:

  • Children with immunodeficiency due to (regardless of immunization status):
  • Travel to areas where measles is endemic or contact with travellers to endemic areas
  • Infants who lose passive antibody before the age of routine immunization

Risk factors for severe measles and its complications:

Vitamins, herbal and minerals

Symptoms

Initial symptoms:

  • High temperature greater than 38°C (100°F) or over and/or chills and sweats longer than 72 hours?
  • Pinkeye and/or runny nose?

Two to four days later:

  • White spots with a red base [Koplik spots (see images)] on inside of the cheek and or on body (2-4 days into the illness)?
  • Red blotchy, non-itchy rash from scalp and spreads to rest of body?
  • Red and watery eyes which can be painful (one may not like the light)?
  • Runny nose, congestion, cold not cleared by over the counter medication or greater than three weeks?
  • Sore throat longer than seven days?
  • Dry cough longer than three weeks or breathing difficulties?

Nail changes:

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

This condition can lead to:

Measles is more likely to be severe and cause complications in the following groups:

More information regarding Measles Rash: 

  • This red, blotchy rash will spread down your or your child’s body over the next three days, eventually reaching your hands and feet after starting around your hairline.
  • It usually lasts about five to six days.
  • After three to four days, the rash may no longer turn white when you push on it.
  • Areas, where the measles rash was most severe, may start to peel.
  • Once the rash begins to go away, it will fade in the same order that it started. It will begin to go away around your hairline and face first, trunk next, and extremities last.

verywellHealth

General tips

  • Avoid gatherings with friends and family as well as crowded places.
  • Social distancing guide
  • Self isolation guide
  • Coughing and sneezing into tissues and then bin it, if you have no tissue then in the crook (inside)  of your elbow.
  • Do not touch your face with unwashed hands
  • Avoid close contact with infected people (2 meter distance)
  • Do not share towels and utensils, dishes , drinking glasses
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
  • How to wash Hands

Pregnancy

If pregnant or planning to be pregnant this condition can lead to:

  • Miscarriage or stillbirth
  • Your baby being born prematurely (before the 37th week of pregnancy)
  • Your baby having a low birth weight

Treatment

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Measles in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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