Measles is one of those infections that many have in childhood. However, in some cases, adults become victims of the pathology. If a child carries it, special antibodies are formed in his body that prevent re-infection. If the immune system is not working properly, it is possible to get sick a second time. Such cases in medical practice are quite rare.
What is a pathology?
Measles is an infection caused by a virus. The composition of this microorganism includes ribonucleic acid. Infection occurs by contact with a sick individual. Pathology is transmitted through conversation, coughing or sneezing. The causative agent is found in the mucus of an infected person. The microbe penetrates other organs and systems through the respiratory tract and spreads throughout the body. In addition, it should be noted that during the latent period, which lasts from seven to ten days, a person does not feel any ailment. Measles disease in adults begins to manifest itself immediately after the latent phase. The patient suffers from pronounced symptoms and at the stage of the appearance of rashes.
Five days after the appearance of spots on the skin, a person is able to infect others. After recovery or a vaccine, the individual's body produces antibodies to protect against this infection. However, it must be remembered that in adults it proceeds much harder than in childhood. The only way that can protect a person from an unpleasant disease is vaccination. Adult measles vaccination is strongly recommended by older people who often interact with babies. Indeed, in old age, the consequences of pathology can lead to death.
Common signs of infection
The main symptoms that may indicate the development of the disease are the following:
- A strong increase in temperature (it often reaches 40 degrees Celsius).
- Fever and chills.
- Loss of appetite.
- Sensation of weakness, pain in the head.
- Nasal discharge, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes.
- Husky voice and the appearance of dry cough.
- Bowel disorders.
- Impaired consciousness.
- Hypersensitivity of the eyes to light.
- Red spots on the body, the inside of the cheeks and the sky.
In general, the symptoms of measles in adults are not too different from the manifestations of pathology in minors. However, in the first category of patients, the infection is much more severe. Often there are dangerous consequences.
Developmental stages
Pathology has several stages, each of which is characterized by a certain set of symptoms. Specialists distinguish three phases:
- Catarrhal. It occurs immediately after the end of the latent period. The patient rises in temperature, there is inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes, there is a strong cough, shortness of breath, hoarse, runny nose.Lymph glands increase in volume. In some cases, measles in adults at this stage is characterized by swelling of the face and the appearance of red spots in the throat. Elevated temperature in the patient is observed for several days. Then she begins to subside a little. After about five days, the fever reappears, and rashes appear on the patient's body. A little later on the inner surface of the cheeks spots of a whitish hue with a red border become visible. Within three to four days, the signs of the disease become more pronounced.
- Stage of rashes. At this stage, they spread throughout the body. First, exanthema occurs on the head and face, then on the neck, trunk and limbs. Sometimes a measles rash in adults has the appearance of spots of a rather large size. This stage of the disease is characterized by a pronounced malaise. In some cases, the patient needs in-patient monitoring and therapy.
- The phase of recovery. After about ten days, the rashes begin to disappear. However, in the place of exanthema there remain areas that are darker in color than the rest of the skin. These spots do not remain for long. Over time, they also disappear. In general, the patient is feeling better. Dry skin may be felt at the site of the rash, peeling is observed. Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes passes, and a person can look at the light without feeling discomfort. Ten days later, the patient fully recovers.
Other types of infection
There are also special forms of pathology in which the disease manifests itself weakly or, conversely, is very difficult. These types include the following:
- Easy flow. In this case, the initial symptoms of measles in adults are mild. The temperature can rise up to 38 degrees Celsius, and exanthema occurs only in some parts of the body. Unfortunately, atypical forms of pathology often lead to an incorrect determination of the diagnosis, since the patient does not have signs characteristic of this infection.
- Hemorrhagic variant of the development of the disease. This is a fairly severe form of measles in adults, in which blood is detected in the internal organs, as well as in urine and stool. These phenomena often lead to the death of the patient. Observation and therapy are necessary in a hospital setting.
- Hypertoxic measles. This form is characterized by severe poisoning of the body and often its result is a violation of the functions of various systems of the human body. If this pathology occurs, an urgent need to send the patient to the hospital.
Who is most at risk of getting sick?
Measles in adults is a highly contagious infection. Its victims are even those people who were vaccinated in childhood. Therefore, it is recommended that measles be revaccinated in adults within the time limits set by medical personnel. Among the populations most susceptible to this infection, the following can be listed:
- Students.
- Persons with a weakened immune system.
- Educators.
- Military.
- Women expecting a baby (during this period, pathology can lead to premature delivery or termination of pregnancy).
Features of infection in adults
Pediatric patients with this pathology are treated at home. Measles in adults is a fairly serious condition, which is accompanied by severe symptoms and requires treatment in a hospital. Distinctive features of the disease in adults are a significant increase in temperature, exanthema on the surface of the whole body and a long recovery. Even after the symptoms disappear, the patient feels weak, his appetite is reduced. With impaired functioning of the immune system, severe complications can occur.
Dangerous effects of infection
Among the unpleasant phenomena that arise as a result of infection with this pathology, the following can be listed:
- Inflammatory processes in the lungs, bronchi.
- Laryngitis.
- Encephalitis.
- Pathology of the heart.
- Inflammation of the meninges.
- Impaired renal function, which acquire a chronic form.
- Hepatitis.
Measles (like other diseases that are common mainly to children) in adults can lead to death. As a result of complications, for example, inflammatory processes in the lungs, elderly people often have a fatal outcome.
Encephalitis and meningitis are also serious consequences of infection. Like measles, these pathologies are accompanied by pain in the head and fever, so they are difficult to recognize. To establish an accurate diagnosis, a brain examination is necessary.
Also, patients who have undergone this disease have an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes for a long time.
Therapy
There are no special drugs for the treatment of pathology. Medications are not aimed at eliminating the symptoms of the disease. To lower the temperature, antipyretic drugs are used. To remove harmful substances from the body, it is recommended to drink plenty of fluids (tea from rose hips, mineral water, drinks made from cranberries and lingonberries).
In addition, experts prescribe pills and ointments to reduce itching. To remove the symptoms of sore throat, it is necessary to use rinses (infusions of chamomile, sage). With conjunctivitis, eye drops help to cope. Sputum-promoting drugs are also prescribed. If the patient has complications, he should be placed in a hospital. To avoid dangerous consequences, it is necessary to take medications that fight harmful microorganisms. However, such medications can only be used under the supervision of a specialist. If the patient has encephalitis, they are given droppers and given drugs to help deal with inflammation. Some sources talk about how to treat measles in adults with traditional methods (for example, healing plants). It should be remembered that these drugs can not be taken as the main therapy.
Measles in the expectant mother
This infection is very dangerous during the period of bearing a child. It can cause premature delivery, fetal death in the womb or various developmental defects (diseases of the heart muscle, respiratory system, as well as mental retardation). These defects cannot be detected during ultrasound examination. However, termination of pregnancy with this infection is required only in extreme cases.
If the expectant mother became ill in the later stages, the infant already has rashes and other characteristic signs at birth.
Regarding measles vaccination, contraindications for adults include pregnancy. However, during the period of gestation, women are given a special serum. In addition, even if the expectant mother is ill, modern methods of therapy can protect her from formidable consequences.
Diagnostics
To identify pathology, two types of medical measures are performed:
- Laboratory blood test (detailed).
- Examination to determine the presence of antibodies.
Similar procedures are also prescribed before the vaccine and during an outbreak.
The day before you pass these laboratory tests, you must adhere to the following rules:
- Do not eat anything in the morning. A medical event is performed only on an empty stomach. From the moment of the last meal to the trip to medical facilities, at least eight hours should pass.
- Dinner should be low in calories. Fried and fatty foods are not recommended.
- The day before the blood test, alcohol-containing drinks should be excluded.
- You can not carry out the event until the withdrawal of drugs. If it is impossible to refuse medication, the patient should inform the laboratory assistant about which medications he is using.
It must be remembered that antibodies to measles are normally present in adults after a recent illness or vaccination.
Preventative measures
An effective way of prevention is a vaccine. It is known that in recent years, this pathology has become more common. This is due to the fact that at the end of the last century, parents did not vaccinate their children. Today, two measles revaccinations in adults are carried out. The period between the first and second procedure is 3 months, ten years must pass before the next one (it is recommended in the absence of antibodies).
People who are in contact with patients should be vaccinated three days after communicating with an infected person. In this case, the procedure is free. This is especially true for employees of educational institutions.
Measles vaccination for adults, at what age is it free? Persons under 35 years old can undergo this procedure in a state medical institution. Older people are given the vaccine in private clinics (unless the patient has had contact with an infected person).
Vaccination Prohibition
There are conditions in which this event cannot be held. However, such pathologies, as a rule, pass over time, and the procedure can be carried out.
Regarding strict prohibitions on measles vaccination, the following are contraindications for adults:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.
- Allergies.
- Cancerous diseases.
The first vaccine is carried out in preschool age. For women who would like to become pregnant soon, the procedure is recommended to be carried out a month before the expected day of conception.
Sometimes after this event, the patient may feel unwell. Measles vaccination for adults causes the following complications:
- Headache.
- Cough.
- Isolation of mucus from the nose.
- In rare cases, an increase in temperature. It is recommended to bring down drugs.
- Spots on the surface of the skin (they disappear a few days after vaccination).
Severe complications are extremely rare.