Acute viral disease, measles, occurs mainly at an early age, so it is considered a childhood infectious disease. The transmission of the pathogen is carried out with inhaled air. The main signs of the disease are intoxication, fever, inflammation of the upper respiratory tract and the appearance of rashes on the skin.
Cause of illness
Measles is a disease of viral etiology. Its causative agent is a virus from the paramyxovirus family. It is very unstable in the environment, quickly dies when exposed to sunlight, disinfectants. The latent period of the disease takes about ten days. The virus, invading the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, then penetrates the blood. In this case, it is introduced into the lymph nodes and the reticuloendothelial system and the formation of multinucleated structures. Due to inflammation in small vessels, a small point rash appears on the skin. Measles in children with an allergic background is more severe.
Clinical manifestations of the disease
After a latent period of the disease, manifestations begin, which are combined in the catarrhal period. Measles in children begins with fever, runny nose and dry cough. The mucous membrane of the nasopharynx is hyperemic. The child becomes moody, his appetite disappears. Typical of this disease are the appearance of Filatov-Koplik spots. They appear two to three days before the rashes on the skin and are localized on the mucosa of the cheeks and gums. The spots are pale white separately located papules that persist on the mucosa for about three days. Then a new wave of temperature increase is noted, and with it rashes appear on the skin. Initially, they appear on the upper half of the body, face, neck, and, lastly, on the lower extremities. The rash looks like small papules that can merge. During this period, intoxication increases. Further, the rash undergoes regression (reverse development) and pigmented spots and slight peeling remain in its place.
Uncomplicated measles in children usually lasts about ten days. After the disease due to a weakened immunity, the body's resistance to disease is reduced, asthenia persists. Therefore, it is important to provide the child with peace and good nutrition, to ensure the intake of multivitamins.
Measles can be mild, moderate, and severe in its course. Measles in children who have been routinely vaccinated may be in an erased form.
Disease complications
In young children, croup may occur due to stenosis of the larynx. A frequent complication is laryngitis. Inflammation of the middle ear, stomatitis, keratitis and pneumonia are less common. Very rarely, with a severe form of the disease and a weakened immunity, measles encephalitis develops.
Diagnostics
The diagnosis with a typical picture is not difficult, and measles is diagnosed already in the initial period. Serological methods help more accurate diagnosis.
Measles treatment
The mild uncomplicated course of the disease does not require special treatment. Symptomatic treatment is prescribed (antipyretic drugs, antibiotics if indicated). The child needs to ensure peace, warm, plentiful drink and try to keep him in bed for a longer time. Inpatient treatment is carried out only in severe forms of the disease. The prognosis in most cases is favorable.
Measles prevention consists of routine vaccination of a child aged one and a half years, if there are no contraindications. If an unvaccinated child has contacted the patient, then he is prevented by the introduction of immunoglobulin. A sick person is subject to isolation. Children in the team who spoke with the patient are subject to separation and isolation at home. Disinfection of premises is usually not carried out.