Measles is a rash viral disease caused by the measles virus and occurs mainly in unvaccinated populations.
Most often it is sick at the age of 2-5, but also children up to 15 years of age, occasionally adults. The source of the infection is a sick person, and the greatest infectivity occurs in the period of heralds and up to the 4-5th day of the rash.
The preview period begins with an increase in temperature and catarrh of the mucous membranes, which changes the appearance of a ten’s face into the so-called “tearful mouth”. There is swelling of the eyelids, conjunctivitis, lacrimation, a runny nose, as well as a dry cough and looser stools. 2-3 days before the appearance of the rash, small white spots on a red background appear on the inside of the cheeks at the level of the molars. These are the so-called Koplik-Fiłatowa spots, which are characteristic only of measles.
Another spike of fever is associated with the appearance of a rash, which first appears on the face, behind the ears and “descends” to the lower parts of the body. The rash is bright red, lumpy, and the lesions blend together. Then the changes take a brick color, the skin resembles “leopard skin”. After the rash persists for a few days, there is a healing period, during which the skin of the face and body peels off in fine flakes.
Complications of measles include, inter alia, inflammation of the angina, bronchitis, middle ear, and lungs. In addition, also inflammation of the appendix, liver and heart muscle. The most serious complication is subacute sclerosing encephalitis, which develops on average 5-7 years after measles. This time, however, varies between 12 months and 18 years after getting sick. This disease runs, inter alia, in with memory impairment, epileptic seizures, intellectual impairment, involuntary movements, balance disorders, insomnia, mental changes, dementia, blindness. Unfortunately, death is inevitable, most often after about six to a year after the onset of symptoms. The maximum life span is approx. 2 years.
Measles itself is treated only symptomatically, e.g. with antitussive and antipyretic drugs, and antibiotics are only used in the event of complications.