Symptoms of measles in adults are usually much more pronounced than in children. The older the person, the more difficult the infection process is. If a child suffers this disease relatively easily and without consequences, then an adult often develops complications. In childhood, measles treatment is carried out mainly at home. Adult patients often have to be hospitalized in a hospital. Particularly dangerous infection for pregnant women and the elderly. Recently, outbreaks of this disease have been noted quite often, so everyone needs to know how measles is manifested in adults.
Pathogen and routes of transmission
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. Its causative agent is morbillivirus. This microorganism is poorly resistant to the external environment. It quickly dies at high temperatures, sunlight and exposure to disinfectants.
After the disease, antibodies are formed in the blood of a person and immunity is established. Re-infections are extremely rare, mainly in patients with sharply weakened body defenses.
Since the virus does not survive well in the environment, it is not transmitted by contact or alimentary means. The only route of infection is airborne. The patient secretes viruses during a conversation, sneezing, or coughing. They enter the mucosa of a healthy person, begin to multiply, and then enter the bloodstream. This is how infection occurs.
Do adults get measles? Many people mistakenly believe that this is a "childhood" infection. However, adults are often infected with this ailment, especially if they have not suffered this disease at an early age. Since this disease leaves immunity behind, you can protect yourself from it with the help of vaccination.
Incubation period
The incubation period of measles in adults lasts from 1 to 2 weeks. At this time, a person does not feel any deviations in well-being. There is still no high fever, signs of damage to the nasopharynx and rash. The virus is just starting to multiply on the mucous membrane of the respiratory system.
However, even at this stage, an infected person is dangerous to others. In the last 2 days of the incubation period of measles in adults, the patient begins to secrete the virus. The person remains contagious until the 4th day of the rash period.
Catarrhal stage
The disease begins acutely, with no harbingers. At this time, the virus has already entered the bloodstream. The catarrhal stage is characterized by inflammation of the nasopharynx and intoxication of the body. The following symptoms of measles in adults are noted:
- The patient's temperature rises sharply to + 40-41 degrees. Such high numbers are typical for adults. In children, the temperature is usually lower. The heat lasts for several days, may be accompanied by delirium and blurred consciousness, and then subsides. However, during the rash period, the temperature rises again.
- There is a severe headache with photophobia. General health is worsening, weakness is growing. The patient has to observe bed rest.
- The patient is disturbed by a frequent dry cough. The breath becomes hoarse. In adults, the disease is often complicated by tracheitis and bronchitis.
- The throat becomes inflamed, turns red and swollen.
- Cervical lymph nodes increase.
- There is a runny nose with mucous or purulent discharge.
- The conjunctiva becomes inflamed, the eyes turn red.
At the catarrhal stage, the disease is sometimes difficult to diagnose. Signs of measles in adults during this period resemble the manifestations of other infectious diseases. Inflammation of the nasopharynx is observed with flu, sore throat, acute respiratory viral infections and many other pathologies.
However, there are specific symptoms peculiar exclusively to measles, which can be determined already at the initial stage. On the mucous membrane of the cheeks in the area of molars, you can notice small white spots with a red border. They appear closer to the end of the catarrhal period. This is a specific manifestation of measles infection. They are called spots of Belsky - Filatov - Koplik.
The catarrhal period lasts about 2-5 days. During this time, the patient's condition worsens and the symptoms increase.
Rash period
Shortly before the appearance of a rash, the patient's temperature decreases and the condition improves slightly. However, this relief is misleading. Soon there is a new jump in temperature, and a rash occurs on day 3-5 of the disease.
Rashes appear on the body. First, they cover the face, chest and neck, and then spread to the trunk and limbs. The rash looks like nodules (papules) of red color. These formations can merge with each other, this is the difference between the symptoms of measles in an adult and the manifestations of rubella. A rash is noted only with measles infection. With rubella, rashes are located separately from each other.
This period lasts about 4-5 days. During rashes, the patient's condition worsens and inflammation of the nasopharynx and eyes again worsens.
Stage of recovery
4 to 5 days after the rash appears, the patient begins to recover. Body temperature decreases, the general condition normalizes. At the site of the rash, pigment spots are first formed, and then a slight redness and peeling of the skin. Full recovery occurs on the 12-15th day of the disease.
So the disease goes with the classic uncomplicated version. However, in adults, measles infection is sometimes atypical.
Atypical forms
How is measles in adults atypical? Pathology can pass both easily and very hard. Three types of disease are possible:
- Erased. The condition of a person is disturbed slightly. Symptoms of measles in an adult are mild. This option for the development of the disease is possible after vaccination or the introduction of sera.
- Hypertoxic. This is an extremely serious form of the disease, requiring immediate hospitalization. There is a very high temperature, severe intoxication, as well as damage to the brain and heart.
- Hemorrhagic. The patient has subcutaneous hemorrhages and bleeding from internal organs. This form of pathology is a danger to the life of the patient.
Hypertoxic and hemorrhagic forms of measles are not common. Basically, such severe types of the disease are noted in people with immunodeficiency.
Possible complications
Complications of measles in adults arise due to the attachment of a bacterial infection. The virus dramatically weakens the immune system. As a result, a person becomes infected with secondary infections.
A dangerous consequence of measles in adults is pneumonia, which can turn into pulmonary edema and lead to death. Another serious complication is meningoencephalitis. It occurs as a result of joining a meningococcal infection. Sometimes the result of measles can be multiple sclerosis - a serious chronic disease of the nervous system that is difficult to treat.
In the catarrhal period of the disease, consequences arise from the respiratory system, the oral cavity, as well as the middle ear. Inflammation of the nasopharynx is complicated by otitis media, stomatitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, laryngitis.
Measles infection can affect the liver and intestines. After the illness, the patient may suffer from enterocolitis and hepatitis. In severe cases, excretory organs are involved in the infectious process, pyelonephritis and renal failure occur.
Measles is very dangerous during pregnancy. The causative agent of the pathology crosses the placenta and causes malformations or death of the embryo. The virus can also lead to a miscarriage or premature birth. In many cases, the disease is an indication for termination of pregnancy.
In adulthood, complications are much more common than in children. Therefore, at the first signs of measles in an adult, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Diagnostics
In the initial period, measles must be differentiated from other infectious diseases: influenza, acute respiratory viral infections, rubella, whooping cough. At the catarrhal stage, pathology can be determined by spots in the oral cavity. They appear on the 2-3 day of illness. This symptom, combined with symptoms of a nasopharyngeal lesion, indicates measles infection.
The doctor also examines the patient's throat. With measles, there is inflammation on its back wall. During auscultation, wheezing is heard.
An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay helps to accurately identify the disease. It determines the presence of antibodies to measles virus. As soon as the causative agent of the disease enters the body, the immune system recognizes it as a foreign substance and begins to produce special proteins to neutralize the microorganism. In some cases, an immunofluorescence assay for the presence of the virus is prescribed.
Treatment
Treatment of measles in adults can only be symptomatic. There is no special medicine to destroy the virus. If the disease is mild, then the therapy is carried out at home. During high temperatures, it is recommended to observe bed rest, while it is advisable to be in a darkened room, as the disease is accompanied by a fear of light. Also, the patient is recommended to drink plenty of fluids to relieve intoxication. In severe cases, the patient is hospitalized.
The following remedies are used to relieve measles symptoms:
- Medications with paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They are prescribed for fever and headache. Such funds include: Aspirin, Coldrex, Ibuprofen, Nimesulide, Nimesil.
- Antihistamines. Their use is indicated in the period of rashes, to relieve skin itching. Assign "Suprastin", "Claritin", "Tavegil", "Diphenhydramine". You can use a local remedy - a solution of Delaskin powder.
- Gargle. Apply the bactericidal preparation "Chlorhexidine" and decoctions of chamomile, eucalyptus, oak bark. calendula
- Mucolytics. These remedies help expectorate when coughing. In the catarrhal period, ACC, Bromhexine, Ambroxol are prescribed.
- Eye drops. They are prescribed to relieve manifestations of conjunctivitis in the catarrhal period. Drops with chloramphenicol and Sulfacyl Sodium are used. You can also rinse your eyes with strong tea leaves or furatsilinom.
- Antibiotics. These drugs are not able to fight the virus. Therefore, with uncomplicated measles, their use is meaningless. However, if a bacterial infection has joined the virus, then the appointment of antibiotics is necessary.
Treatment of measles in adults with immunoglobulin is indicated only at the beginning of the disease. If a person has had contact with the patient, then the introduction of serum will help transfer the disease much easier. In this case, the infection often proceeds in an erased form.
Prevention and vaccination
Prevention of measles in adults is to limit contact with the patient. It is important to remember that this disease is very easily transmitted and very difficult in adulthood. The introduction of serum in the incubation period does not completely protect against the disease.
The only reliable protection against measles is the administration of a vaccine. If the vaccination course was not carried out in childhood, then this can be done in adulthood. For patients under 35 years of age, vaccination is free.
When is an adult measles vaccine given? First of all, it is recommended to previously unvaccinated people, women planning a pregnancy, and travelers. Most often, the combined drug "Priorix" is introduced. It contains weakened viruses, their entry into the body causes an immune system response. The vaccine protects not only against measles, but also against rubella and mumps.
There are temporary contraindications for vaccination. The vaccine should not be given to pregnant women after the introduction of immunoglobulins, as well as during acute infectious diseases. It is not recommended to administer the drug to people with tuberculosis. When is measles vaccine given to adults in these cases? If vaccination was delayed due to pregnancy, then it can be done after childbirth. Breastfeeding is not a contraindication. In case of disease, vaccination is done after recovery. After the use of immunoglobulins, the vaccine can be administered after 1 month.
There are constant contraindications. The vaccine should not be administered for allergies to aminoglycosides and egg white and to people with tumors. If in the past a person has been hypersensitive to the drug for vaccination, then vaccination must be abandoned.
The measles vaccination scheme for adults provides for a double administration of the drug. A subcutaneous injection is made in the forearm. After 3 months, the vaccine is administered again.
After vaccination, a person may experience a rise in temperature, general malaise, redness and pain at the injection site. This should not be scared, such symptoms are a normal reaction. They indicate the immune response of the body. After about a week, all the unpleasant symptoms go away.
However, if a person has an allergy after an injection, pain in the abdomen or head, unpleasant sensations in the kidneys, then it is necessary to inform the doctor about this. Such manifestations indicate a severe reaction of the body to vaccination.