MEASLES

Note prepared by:

Arpana Khanal
Dibyata Khatiwada
Swastika Manandhar
Dipak Mandal
Amrit Neupane
Measles
• Measles or rubella, is a viral infection that starts in the
respiratory system. It still remains a significant cause
of death worldwide, despite the availability of a safe,
effective vaccine.
• There were about 110,000 global deaths related to
measles in 2017, most of them in children under the age
of 5, according to the
World Health Organization (WHO)Trusted Source.
Measles cases have also been increased in the United
States in recent YEA.
Symptoms of measles
Symptoms of measles generally first appear within 10 to 12
days of exposure to the virus. They include:
• cough
• fever
• runny nose
• red eyes
• sore throat
• white spots inside the mouth
• Skin rash:A widespread skin rash is a classic sign of
measles. This rash can last up to 7 days and generally
appears within 14 days of exposure to the virus. It
commonly develops on the head and slowly spreads to
other parts of the body.
 CAUSES OF MEASLES

• Measles is caused by infection with a virus from the

paramyxovirus family. Viruses are tiny parasitic
microbes. Once you’ve been infected, the virus invades
host cells and uses cellular components to complete its
life cycle.

• The measles virus infects the respiratory tract first.

However, it eventually spreads to other parts of the
body through the bloodstream.

• Measles is only known to occur in humans and not in

other animals. There are 24Trusted Source known
genetic types of measles, although only 6 are currently
circulating.
Is measles airborne?

•Measles can be spread through the air from respiratory

droplets and small aerosol particles. An infected person
can release the virus into the air when they cough or
sneeze.

•These respiratory particles can also settle on objects and

surfaces. You can become infected if you come into contact
with a contaminated object, such as a door handle, and
then touch your face, nose, or mouth.

•The measles virus can live outside of the body for longer
than you may think. In fact, it can remain infectious in the
air or on surfaces for up to two hoursTrusted Source.
Is measles contagious?

•Measles is highly contagious. This means that the infection

can spread very easily from person to person.

•A susceptible person that’s exposed to the measles virus has

a 90 percent chance of becoming infected. Additionally, an
infected person can go on to spread the virus to anywhere
between 9 and 18 susceptible individuals.
Is measles contagious?
• A person that has measles can spread the virus to others
before they even know that they have it. An infected
person is contagious for four days before the
characteristic rash appears. After the rash appears,
they’re still contagious for another four days.

• The main risk factor for catching measles is being

unvaccinated. Additionally, some groups are at a
higher risk of developing complications from measles
infection, including young children, people with a
weakened immune system, and pregnant women
Diagnosing measles
•If you suspect that you have measles or have been exposed to
someone with measles, contact your doctor immediately.
They can evaluate you and direct you where to be seen to
determine if you have the infection.

•Doctors can confirm measles by examining your skin rash

and checking for symptoms that are characteristic of the
disease, such as white spots in the mouth, fever, cough, and
sore throat.

•If they suspect you may have measles based on your history
and observation, your doctor will order a blood test to check
for the measles virus.
Treatment for measles

•There’s no specific treatment for measles. Unlike bacterial

infections, viral infections aren’t sensitive to antibiotics.

•The virus and symptoms typically disappear in about two

or three weeks.

•There are some interventions available for people who

may have been exposed to the virus. These can help
prevent an infection or lessen its severity.
Treatment for measles
Some interventions are:
 measles vaccine, given within 72 hours of exposure
 a dose of immune proteins called immunoglobulin,
taken within six days of exposure
• Your doctor may recommend the following to help you
recover:
 acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) to reduce
fever
 rest to help boost your immune system
 plenty of fluids
 a humidifier to ease a cough and sore throat
 vitamin A supplements
Measles in adults

•Although it’s often associated with childhood illness, adults

can get measles too. People who aren’t vaccinated are at a
higher risk of catching the disease.

•It’s generally accepted that adults born during or before

1957 are naturally immune to measles. This is because the
vaccine was first licensed in 1963. Before then, most people
had been naturally exposed to the infection by their
adolescent years and became immune as a result.
Measles in adult
• According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source,
serious complications are not only more common in young
children, but also in adults over the age of 20. These complications
can include things like pneumonia, encephalitis, and blindness.
• If you’re an adult who hasn’t been vaccinated or isn’t sure of their
vaccination status, you should see your doctor to receive the
vaccination. At least one dose of the vaccine is recommended for
unvaccinated adults.
Measles in babies

•The measles vaccine isn’t given to children until they’re at

least 12 months old. Before receiving their first dose of the
vaccine is the time they’re most vulnerable to being
infected with the measles virus.

•Babies receive some protection from measles through

passive immunity, which is provided from mother to child
through the placenta and during breastfeeding.
Measles in babies
• However, researchTrusted Source has shown that this
immunity can be lost in just over 2.5 months after birth
or the time breastfeeding is discontinued.

• Children under 5 years of age are more likely to have

complications due to measles. These can include things
like pneumonia, encephalitis, and ear infections that
can result in hearing loss.
Incubation period for measles
•The incubation period of an infectious disease is the time
that passes between exposure and when symptoms develop.
• The incubation period for measles is between 10 and 14
days.
•After the initial incubation period, you may begin to
experience nonspecific symptoms, such as fever, cough, and
runny nose.
• The rash will begin to develop several days later.
•It’s important to remember that you can still spread the
infection to others for four days prior to developing the
rash.
• If you think you’ve been exposed to measles and haven’t
been vaccinated, you should contact your doctor as soon as
possible.
Measles types

In addition to a classic measles infection, there are also

several other types of measles infections that you can get.
They are:
1. Atypical Measles
2. Modified Measles
3. Hemorrhagic Measles
Measles types:

• Atypical measles: Atypical measles occurs in people who

received a killed measles vaccine between 1963 and 1967.
When exposed to measles, these individuals come down
with an illness that has symptoms such as high fever, rash,
and sometimes pneumonia.
• Modified measles :This type of measles occurs in people
who’ve been given post-exposure immunoglobulin and in
infants who still have some passive immunity. Modified
measles is typically milder than a regular case of measles.
• Hemorrhagic measles :It is rarely reported in the
United States. It causes symptoms like high fever, seizures,
and bleeding into the skin and mucus membranes.
Measles vs. rubella

Differences:
•You may have heard rubella referred to as “German
measles.” But measles and rubella are actually caused by
two different viruses.

•Rubella isn’t as contagious as measles. However, it can

cause serious complications if a woman develops the
infection while pregnant.
Similarities:
• Even though different viruses cause measles and
rubella, they’re also similar in several ways. Both
viruses:
• can be spread through the air from coughing and
sneezing
• cause fever and a distinctive rash
• occur only in humans
• Both measles and rubella are included in the measles-
mumps-rubella (MMR) and measles-mumps-rubella-
vermicelli (MMRV) vaccines.
Measles prevention
There a few ways to prevent becoming ill with measles:
1. Vaccination
•Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent measles. Two doses of the
measles vaccine are 97 percentTrusted Source effective at preventing
measles infection.
•There are two vaccines available :The MMR vaccine and the MMRV
vaccine:
• The MMR vaccine is a three-in-one vaccination that can protect you
from measles, mumps, and rubella.
• The MMRV vaccine protects against the same infections as the MMR
vaccine and also includes protection against chickenpox.

• Children can receive their first vaccination at 12 months, or sooner if

traveling internationally, and their second dose between the ages of 4 and
6. Adults who have never received an immunization can request the
vaccine from their doctor
Measles Prevention
Some groups shouldn’t receive a vaccination against
measles. These groups include:
• people who’ve had a previous life-threatening reaction
to the measles vaccine or its components
• pregnant women
• immunocompromised individuals, which can include
people with HIV or AIDS
• people undergoing cancer treatment
• people on medications that suppress the immune system
 Side effect of vaccination
•Side effects to vaccination are typically mild and disappear in a
few days. They can include things like fever and mild rash.
• In rare cases, the vaccine has been linked to low platelet count
or seizures.
•Some believe that the measles vaccine can cause autism in
children. As a result, an intense amount of study has been
devoted to this topic over many years. This research has found
that there is no linkTrusted Source between vaccines and autism.
So in order to achieve herd immunity against
measles, approximately 96 percentTrusted Source of the
population must be vaccinated.
Other prevention methods

Not everyone can receive the measles vaccination. But

there are other ways that you can help to prevent the
spread of measles.
If you’re susceptible to infection:
•Practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands before
eating, after using the bathroom, and before touching your
face, mouth, or nose.
•Don’t share personal items with people who may be ill.
This can include things like eating utensils, drinking
glasses, and toothbrushes.
•Avoid coming into contact with people who are sick.
If you’re sick with measles:

Stay home from work or school and other public places

until you aren’t contagious. This is four days after you first
develop the measles rash.
Avoid contact with people who may be vulnerable to
infection, such as infants too young to be vaccinated and
immunocompromised people.
Cover your nose and mouth if you need to cough or
sneeze. Dispose of all used tissues promptly. If you don’t
have a tissue available, sneeze into the crook of your elbow,
not into your hand.
Be sure to wash your hands frequently and to disinfect
any surfaces or objects that you touch frequently.
Measles during pregnancy
Pregnant women who don’t have immunity to measles
should take care to avoid exposure during their pregnancy.
Coming down with measles during your pregnancy can
have significant negative health effects on both the mother
and fetus.
Pregnant women are at an increased risk for complications
from measles such as pneumonia. Additionally, having
measles while pregnant can lead to the following
pregnancy complications:
omiscarriage
opreterm labor
olow birth weight
ostillbirth
•Measles can also be transmitted from mother to child if the
mother has measles close to her delivery date. This is called
congenital measles. Babies with congenital measles have a
rash after birth or develop one shortly afterward. They’re
at an increased risk of complications, which can be life-
threatening.
•If you’re pregnant, don’t have immunity to measles, and
believe that you’ve been exposed, you should contact your
doctor immediately. Receiving an injection of
immunoglobulin may help to prevent an infection.
Measles prognosis
Measles has a low death rate in healthy children and adults,
and most people who contract the measles virus recover
fully. The risk of complications is higher in the following
groups:
•children under 5 years old
•adults over 20 years old
•pregnant women
•people with a weakened immune system
•individuals who are malnourished
•people with a vitamin A deficiency
•Approximately 30 percentTrusted Source of people with
measles experience one or more complications.
•Measles can lead to life-threatening complications, such as
pneumonia and inflammation of the brain (encephalitis).
Other complications associated with measles may include:
ear infection
bronchitis
croup
severe diarrhea
blindness
pregnancy complications, such as miscarriage or
preterm labor
subacute sclerosing pan encephalitis (SSPE), a rare
degenerative condition of the nervous system that develops
years after infection
You can’t get measles more than once. After you’ve had
the virus, you’re immune for life.

However, measles and its potential complications are

preventable through vaccination. Vaccination not only
protects you and your family, but also prevents the
measles virus from circulating in your community and
affecting those who can’t be vaccinated.