What is Measles? What are the Symptoms?

What is Measles? What are the Symptoms?

Measles is a very common and contagious infectious disease that occurs mostly in childhood. As it reduces immunity and resistance, it can progress to pneumonia, middle ear infections and meningitis. Once acquired, it provides lifelong immunity. Vaccination against this disease, which is widespread worldwide, is vital. Symptoms include fever and cough. While there is no treatment method, it can go away on its own over time.

The incubation period of the disease is between 1 and 2 weeks. The first week after the onset of symptoms and rashes is reported to be the most contagious period. Vaccination of infants and children ensures that the risk of transmission and the risk of developing infection are prevented. In addition, with the vaccination process and the increase in vaccination, the likelihood of the disease has decreased by 90-95 percent.
Complaints and symptoms begin to appear in about 1-2 weeks after the virus infects the individual. People usually have complaints and symptoms similar to upper respiratory tract diseases, flu or cold. The symptoms of the disease may show differentiation in the following days.
Measles symptoms can be listed as follows:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Fatigue and weakness
  • Redness of the eyes
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Runny nose
  • White spots on the gums or inside the cheek
  • Rash

Rashes appear on the face and hairlines 2 to 3 days after the onset of symptoms and complaints. It then spreads to the arms, legs and trunk. Rashes on the face and neck may merge.
There may be edema of the skin and swelling of the face. In some cases, a rash may also appear on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet. Depending on the extent of the rash, the severity of the disease may increase.
After 3 to 4 days, the rash subsides and disappears. There is also an improvement from the head to the feet. Scaling of the skin begins.
During the rashes, the fever rises. The person may also lose appetite, become frail, weak and have swollen lymph nodes.
After the 2nd week, the body becomes immune to the virus and takes the disease under control. In people with a very weak immune system, serious problems may occur in the body that cannot produce antibodies against the disease.

How is measles transmitted?

It is an infectious disease that is highly contagious and occurs as a result of the transmission of the virus from person to person. Although it is usually seen in childhood, it can also occur in adults. The spread of the disease, whose contagiousness is high depending on the periods, can occur in direct contact with the infected person or through respiration.
The virus, which can stay in the air for a certain period of time, can stay in its environment for more than an hour. The virus can be transmitted to the person by breathing this air. Patients are most likely to transmit the disease in the first week before and the week after the rash appears.
Transmission is most likely during periods of symptoms such as high fever and dry cough. People who come into contact with an infected person may experience symptoms after 8 to 12 days.
People who have measles once are immune and this immunity lasts for a lifetime.

How is measles diagnosed?

The diagnosis of measles is determined depending on the complaints and symptoms experienced by the patients. Although the symptoms and findings experienced in people are similar to the symptoms seen in upper respiratory tract diseases, they may change in the future.
It can be diagnosed in cases where people experience high fever, cough, weakness and rash. In addition to these, in cases where a definitive diagnosis and diagnosis is desired, it can be determined by evaluating serological tests, blood tests, urine tests and urine tests that measure the antibody level in the person's blood.

How Does Measles Pass? What is the Treatment?

Measles is a disease that does not require treatment when it does not cause different diseases. As an answer to the question "How does measles pass?", it is a condition that mostly passes spontaneously and in cases of recovery, the body gains immunity for a lifetime.
Recommendations that may be recommended by the doctor may include rest, rest, consumption of juicy and soft foods. It is also a condition that requires plenty of fluids.
It is a viral infection and antibiotics are generally not recommended. Cleaning the eyelids with warm water, antipyretics recommended by your doctor can be used in cases of high fever.
It is important to ventilate the room where the person is resting or staying frequently and keep it moist. Although rare, in some cases, this condition can be severe and severe. In these life-threatening cases, vitamins and Vitamin A supplements recommended by the doctor can be taken.

When should the measles vaccine be given?

It is possible to protect against the virus, which is frequently seen in children and has a high risk of spreading, by vaccination. In addition to children, measles vaccine can be given to people of all ages, as this condition can also be seen in adults.
However, according to the statement made by the Ministry of Health, depending on the date of birth of the child in the 12th month, it is performed as Measles-Mumps-Mumps triple vaccination at the end of the 48th month or in the 1st grade of primary school.

Measles Virus

It is one of the most common viruses in the world. It is a virus that can infect many children at the same time. It can affect people depending on the state of their immune system. While the bodies of people with weak immune systems are more affected, depending on this situation, people can be seen in different serious diseases.
This disease, which is especially seen in girls and spring, carries a higher risk of transmission to children during education and school periods. For this reason, vaccination of children during educational periods is very important for the body to gain immunity against this condition.

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CreatorNP Istanbul Hospital Editorial Board
Updated At05 March 2024
Created At14 December 2022
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