Measles in children

Measles (morbilli) is a highly contagious acute viral infection, manifested by high (febrile) temperature, specific exanthema, symptoms of general intoxication, generalized inflammatory lesions of the pharyngeal mucosa, conjunctiva and respiratory organs.

Measles symptoms in children, treatment, prevention and first signs of measles.

Measles (morbilli) is a highly contagious acute viral infection, manifested by high (febrile) temperature, specific exanthema, symptoms of general intoxication, generalized inflammatory lesions of the pharyngeal mucosa, conjunctiva and respiratory organs. The source of infection is a sick person, forms of measles, which can occur not only with a typical picture, but also atypical. The disease is also dangerous due to the possibility of developing various complications, which is especially dangerous with weakened immunity.

Measles is usually transmitted by airborne droplets.
This disease is ill only 1 time. After it, a person develops immunity. However, not only the pathology itself is dangerous, but also the consequences that it can provoke.

A sick person always acts as a source of infection. Often it is dangerous for people around from the 7th day of infection, and especially when a rash appears. The measles virus ceases to enter the environment on the 4th day from the moment the elements appear on the skin, and from that day on, the person becomes non-infectious.

The cause of the spread of infection is always a sick person. The virus enters the air through droplets of saliva released when coughing, sneezing or talking, and then “moves” into the respiratory tract of a nearby child. The patient is considered contagious during the last two days of the virus incubation period and up to the 4th day of the rash. Measles is most common in children under 5 years of age. Adults who have not undergone mandatory vaccination get sick less often, but their risk of infection is very high, and the disease is more severe than in children. In the spring-winter period, the peak incidence is noted, and the decline occurs in August and September. After recovery, persistent lifelong immunity is maintained with the preservation of anti-measles antibodies in the blood.

Infants under 1 year of age practically cannot get measles, since antibodies received from the mother remain in their blood, but gradually by the year their number decreases, respectively increasing the risk of developing the disease without vaccination. When a pregnant woman is infected, the virus can be transmitted through the placenta to the fetus and the development of congenital measles.

The incubation period is 7-14 days. At this stage, the virus in the body multiplies “quietly”, there are no symptoms of measles, absolutely nothing bothers the child. In this case, the baby becomes contagious to others only in the last 5 days of the incubation period.

Measles can be distinguished from other diseases by the nature of the course. At first, a temperature of up to 39 degrees appears, then they turn red, the eyes begin to water and fester.

Symptoms of measles in children.

Oddly enough, but how measles begins, even the most astute parent will not see. This insidious disease develops in stages, and the initial period can last weeks and not manifest itself at all. The child will continue to have fun and play, and the malicious virus will thus undermine his body from the inside.

The first signs of measles are very similar to the symptoms of SARS. The child has a cough, runny nose, fever. This period is considered the first and is called the incubation period.

The most characteristic sign of measles disease are spots at the base of the molars. They occur due to the fact that the virus destroys the mucous membrane. She is getting thinner. White spots are surrounded by a red swollen border. On this basis, measles can be distinguished from other diseases that have similar manifestations.

The course of measles in a child is a sequential change of 3 stages:

• catarrhal period;
• rash stage;
• convalescence period.
• Each of them has its own time range and corresponding symptoms.

In the table, we will consider how measles manifests itself at different stages.

Various consequences arise due to a weakened immune system, due to which a viral infection is complicated by an attached bacterial one. Secondary bacterial pneumonia is often diagnosed in patients with measles. Rare, but possible stomatitis. Most often, otitis, laryngitis, bronchopneumonia, stomatitis, glossitis, blindness, encephalitis, inflammation of the lymph nodes of the neck, tracheobronchitis, polyneuritis, CNS damage.

To make a reliable diagnosis, your child must be sent for the following types of laboratory tests: general blood and urine tests, serological testing (detection of antibodies to the measles virus in the child’s blood serum), virus isolation from the blood, chest x-ray (done only in exceptional cases) , electroencephalography (performed only in the presence of complications on the nervous system). Despite the severity of the disease, the prognosis for childhood measles is favorable.

Good care for children with measles by parents and other households will greatly increase the effectiveness of the prescribed treatment.

The main role in the prevention of measles in children belongs to active immunization. Vaccination is based on the process of artificially creating an immune response to infections by introducing into the body the protein components of bacteria and viruses that cause the development of infectious processes.

When the first signs of the disease appear, parents are obliged to isolate the child from other children, call the local pediatrician to the house; if the child attended a children’s institution (kindergarten, school), the mother must inform this institution about the child’s illness.

General recommendations for the prevention of measles: isolation of children with measles from the team; compliance with quarantine measures in groups for 21 days; regular airing and wet cleaning of the premises, especially if there was a sick child; timely administration of immunoglobulin to contact children no later than 3-5 days from the moment of contact; scheduled vaccination and revaccination of children according to the vaccination schedule.

Re-infection with measles is extremely rare. After the illness, immunity is lifelong. After vaccination, persistent immunity is maintained for 15 years. Noticing the appearance of a rash in a child, you should consult a doctor, he will help you with his explanations. It is important to remember that it is not the virus itself that is dangerous, but the negative consequences in the form of complications that it often has.

What are the first signs and symptoms of the disease?

It all starts with conjunctivitis, a dry cough and a “good cold”. The child has fever, chills, he is grumpy. His eyes are watering, his nose is runny, his eyelids are swollen. The first red buttons do not appear until later.

How are measles spots in babies?

The measles rash first appears behind the ears and at the hairline, then gradually spreads to the cheeks, arms, torso and legs, to cover the entire body two or three days later. . Slightly raised, these buttons are erased at the touch of a finger and form red-pink patches with intervals of healthy skin.

What is measles?

Measles comes from paramyxovirus, the most contagious virus in pediatrics. It is easily transmitted through the respiratory tract, coughing and sneezing in particular, but it can also be spread by a simple handshake or by touching a soiled tissue.

How long can the contagion last?

Eight to twelve days on average. The patient is first contagious at least three days before the rash, so before it is even known that he has measles. The disease can therefore spread very easily, especially within families and communities.

Should I take my child to the doctor?

This is essential. All cases of measles must be declared to the health authorities. The doctor will examine your child and, in particular, look for Köplick signs, small red spots, speckled with white, which appear on the inside of the cheeks, opposite the molars and which are very characteristic of measles.

Treatment: Are Antibiotics Helpful?

No, because it’s a viral disease. Antibiotics will only be prescribed in the event of pulmonary superinfection. As there is no actual measles medicine, the doctor will prescribe symptomatic treatment for fever (paracetamol or ibuprofen) for your child, possibly a cough syrup for a dry cough, and physiological saline for him. wash the nose. And lots of rest!

Can my child continue to go to nursery or school?

The contagion time is five days after the start of the rash: this is the period during which your child will not be able to go to nursery or school. In addition, we know that this virus depresses the immune defenses for 4 to 6 weeks, which means that during this time your child will be much more likely to get a new infection.

Can this disease cause complications?

It is even the main danger of this disease, which can cause complications such as ear infections, pneumonia, encephalitis and the most dreaded, the subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (PESS), always fatal and all the more formidable as it occurs 4 to 17 years after measles! Measles thus kills by its complications each year approximately 600 children in the world, mainly in developing countries, but not only.

From January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2016, more than 24 cases of measles were reported in France. Among them, we deplore 000 deaths.

How do you treat measles?

There is only one effective and lasting solution: the vaccine. Routine MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) vaccination is the only way to protect yourself from these diseases. This vaccine is covered 100% by the Health Insurance. For all children, the 1stinjection is given at 12 months and the 2nd between 16 and 18 months (with an interval of one month between the 2 injections).

Is this vaccination 100% effective?

Sometimes, the child develops the disease between 5 and 15 days after the injection, but always in an attenuated way and without any seriousness. This should not be forgotten that vaccination is the only way to be sure that a child will not get measles as an adult (it is often much more serious) and that he will not pass it on to children. less than 9 months old, who have not yet been vaccinated.

MMR is one of the 11 compulsory vaccines for children born since January 1, 2018.