Measles virus is one of the most dangerous. The main question that you need to know the answer to protect yourself from infection is how is measles transmitted ? The virus lives only in the cells of the human body, and without a “carrier”, it will die immediately. But still, this virus still lives on the planet, since measles is transmitted not by contact, but by air. Therefore, having appeared in some locality, it immediately acquires the scale of an epidemic, if not taken appropriate measures - quarantine.
Measles virus
Measles is a disease native to paramyxoviruses with RNA. How is measles transmitted? The infection enters a weakened body when a measles patient from the environment coughs or sneezes. Then the virus enters the mucous membranes of a healthy person. And the infection is 100% in nature. The patient should be isolated no less than 5 days after the rash.
At the beginning of the 20th century, a huge number of children around the world died from the effects of measles. For modern parents, measles does not seem so dangerous, since widespread vaccination during the Soviet era “made it impossible” for an entire generation to get this disease. But those who, for various reasons have not been vaccinated, should protect themselves as much as possible from this virus.
Pathogenesis
After the virus has entered the circulatory system, it is fixed in almost all organs - in the tissues of the lungs, tonsils, and in the digestive tract. But most affects blood vessels. Rashes always start from the cheeks, go to the sky and scalp, then to the whole body.
A rash is a pathognomonic symptom by which measles is determined. Inflammatory infiltrates are gradually developing. If immunoglobulin is administered to the infected person at this time, this will help kill a small number of pathogens. For prophylaxis, 3 mm of immunoglobulin is administered, but if a person is suspected of having measles, they are still urgently isolated.
The incubation period is up to 10 days. Very rarely increases to 17. The course of the disease takes place in 3 stages:
- Catarrhal period. The patient has a fever, an angry cough begins.
- Rash period. From 3 or 5 days a rash of Belsky-Filatov-Koplik begins. Spots are found on the face, then slowly "capture" the whole body. The duration of this condition is about 9 days.
- Convalescence period. At this time, asthenia increases and a decrease in the resistance of the weakened organism to bacteria is observed. With the end of the disease, the skin peels off, the rash disappears and the temperature drops.
But when a person knows exactly how measles is transmitted, he can react in time. That is, to isolate yourself, not to allow others to become infected.
Doctors distinguish between a weak form, moderate and severe. However, those who have undergone seroprophylaxis, if they become ill, then mitigated (not too dangerous) measles.
Symptomatology
Symptoms are initially very similar to flu. General intoxication, due to which a person feels weak, a severe runny nose, cough and fever abruptly begin. With measles, body temperature is very high: in children 38 - 40, in adults above 40. But from 5 days on, a person is already sprinkled, and a diagnosis can be made.
For adults, other signs are also characteristic:
- conjunctivitis;
- photophobia (a person becomes susceptible to bright light);
- severe headaches;
- severe cough;
- rhinitis;
- measles enanthema (spots on the soft palate);
- bowel dysfunction;
In addition, delirium is possible at very high temperatures. Especially in men, since women usually tolerate heat more easily. That's how measles manifests itself . Symptoms are transmitted, treated and how to protect against measles - very useful information for a person. Now about half of all cases of the disease are adult infections.
The erased, hemorrhagic and hypertoxic form of the disease is distinguished by the form of the course. The erased (mitigated) form proceeds most easily. With hemorrhagic feces and urine with blood, other bleeding of a different nature are observed. In the presence of such bleeding, a person is urgently taken to the hospital.
With the hypertoxic form of the disease, meningoencephalitis is more often a complication, and this disease is fatal.
Is measles transmitted?
How is measles transmitted? Just like chickenpox, measles is also called a “flying disease” because the virus is carried by air currents and spreads very quickly. An adult who works with children who has not had measles in childhood must be vaccinated.
How is measles transmitted? If at least one child is sick, all his peers, all the adults and the elderly around him, become infected. This virus belongs to the category of highly contagious - that is, uniquely infectious.
How is infection transmitted in adults?
Despite the fact that the adult population is still more conscious, and always follows the rules of hygiene, this does not save from measles. It has been described how measles is transmitted - lightning fast. If there is no formed immunity against it, then nothing will protect. Measles is transmitted by airborne droplets, and is carried several meters by air currents. This means that if in a neighboring room a child with measles sneezes, then the infection through an open window or ventilation freely enters the apartment and infects.
Everyone who was close to an infected person during the first days, when the disease had not yet manifested, also becomes infected.
Vaccines are usually enough for about 10 years. After talking with an infected child, you need to take a test that determines the level of antibodies to the virus. And if the body has already begun to lose protection, it is advisable to be vaccinated again.
Measles effects
Measles is a disease that violates the integrity of blood vessels. And depending on how affected the vascular system is due to infection, mild and severe consequences are distinguished. The mild effects of measles are platelet damage, otitis media, laryngitis, convulsions. But there are more serious ones.
When the infection reaches the vessels of the lungs and destroys them, the patient burns very quickly. Moreover, when a bacterium enters the body weakened by infection.
It happens (with a hypertoxic or hemorrhagic form of the disease) that the brain vessels are more affected. Then there is practically no chance of recovery. Since encephalitis definitely leads to death.
The course of measles in children and adults
So, how is measles transmitted in adults? Just like any airborne infection.
Better still carry measles in childhood. Adults tolerate the infection much harder, and then complications are more difficult: laryngitis with stenosis, bronchitis, otitis media, meningoencephalitis. Papular rash in adults is stronger, more often hemorrhagic elements (bruising) appear on the body. If children are treated at home, then adults are instantly hospitalized.
The temperature in an adult often rises above 40 C. It is especially dangerous when the disease passes in a hypertoxic form. In this case, a person may have problems with CVS. An adult with this form of measles should not be treated at home. The body temperature in this case is off scale. But if, from the very first day of the disease, an ambulance is called and under the control of doctors, the disease can be defeated without consequences.
Adult vaccination
Since 1967, in the former Soviet Union began to vaccinate against measles. Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences, virologist A. A. Smorodintsev created live serum. What's happening? A virus is grown on the basis of ordinary egg white, it is weakened and cannot infect other people, and will not lead to death either. In external indicators only, it looks like a real virus, and this is enough for the body to develop the necessary antibodies.
It was established that all adults after 35 years of age who were vaccinated against measles at the age of 6 should be vaccinated again. Since protection weakens with time.
All unvaccinated must be vaccinated twice, so that long-term protection is formed in their body. There is an interval between vaccinations - not less than one month. Adults are vaccinated with a monovacine or trivaccine.
Is the vaccine durable?
The immunity that is acquired after an illness is much stronger and lasts a lifetime, while the protection created against a weak virus does not protect for long, only 10-12 years. But still, vaccination, according to doctors, is better than the risk of contracting real measles.
In the case when a person does not know whether he was vaccinated in childhood or not, he can do an analysis - a serological reaction. The analysis will determine for sure whether measles antibodies are present or not. Since more adults are currently infected with measles, a serological reaction will not be out of place for everyone.