Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Recognizing the main features and symptoms
• Part 2 of 2: Getting medical help
• Tips

Measles (rubeola) is primarily an infection that occurs in children and is caused by a virus. It was once very common in the Netherlands, but measles now rarely occurs as a result of vaccination. In other parts of the world, measles is more common and can be serious and deadly for young children with weakened immune systems, especially those under five. Learning to recognize common signs and symptoms of measles in a child and seeking medical care can reduce the risks of serious health consequences.

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Part 1 of 2: Recognizing the main features and symptoms

1. Look for a characteristic red rash. The most recognizable sign of measles is the rash it causes, which appear a few days after a cough, sore throat and runny nose. The rash consists of many small red spots and bumps in small groups, some of which are slightly raised, but usually from a distance it resembles large flat spots. The head / face is affected first, with the rash appearing behind the ears and close to the hairline. In the following days, the rash will spread to the neck, arms and torso, and then down to the legs and feet. The rash is usually not itchy, but it can be irritating for people with sensitive skin.
   • People with measles usually feel sickest on the first or second day after the rash develops, and it takes about a week for it to clear completely.
   • Shortly after the rash appears, the fever usually rises sharply and can rise above 40 degrees Celsius. Medical attention is necessary at this stage.
   • Many people with measles also develop small gray-white spots in their mouth (on the inside of the cheeks) called Koplik's spots.
2. Check for fever. Measles usually starts with nonspecific signs and symptoms, such as general malaise (fatigue) and a mild to moderate fever. So, if your child seems lethargic along with a poor appetite and mild increase, chances are they have a viral infection. However, since most viral infections start in the same way, a mild fever is not a strong indication of measles.
   • The normal body temperature is 37 degrees Celsius, so a fever in a child is any temperature above 38 degrees Celsius. A temperature of more than 38 degrees Celsius in children deserves medical attention.
   • A digital ear thermometer (a timpanic thermometer) is a quick and easy way to measure a child's temperature.
   • Measles has an incubation period of 10 to 14 days after infection, which is a period without signs or symptoms.
3. Watch for a cough, sore throat and runny nose. Shortly after you notice a mild to moderate fever in your child, measles quickly develops other symptoms. A persistent cough, sore throat, runny nose and inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis) are characteristic of the early stages of measles. This relatively mild collection of symptoms can persist for two or three days after the onset of the fever. These symptoms are still not conclusive evidence that your child has a disease like measles - other viral infections, such as the common cold and the flu, cause very similar symptoms.
   • The cause of the measles is the paramyxovirus, which is highly contagious. It spreads by means of droplets in the air or on surfaces, then multiplies in the nose and throat of an infected person.
   • You can contract the paramyxovirus by putting your fingers in your mouth / nose or by rubbing your eyes after touching an infected surface. An infected person's coughing or sneezing can also spread measles.
   • A person with measles can spread the virus to other people for a period of about eight days - from the point when symptoms start to the fourth day of the rash (see below).
4. Know who is at high risk. While people who have been fully vaccinated against measles have almost no risk of getting the disease, certain groups of people have a higher risk of measles. The highest risk are those who have not been fully vaccinated against the disease, those with a vitamin A deficiency and / or those who have been in places where measles is common (Africa and parts of Asia, for example). Other groups more susceptible to measles are people with weakened immune systems and children less than 12 months old (because they are too young to qualify for vaccination).
   • The measles vaccine is usually combined with other vaccines that protect against mumps and rubella. Combined, this vaccine is called the MBR vaccine.
   • People who receive immunoglobulin treatment and the MMR vaccine at the same time are also at higher risk of developing measles.
   • Vitamin A has antiviral properties and is very important for the health of the mucous membranes that cover the nose, mouth and eyes. If your diet contains too few vitamins, you are more likely to get measles, as well as more severe symptoms.

Part 2 of 2: Getting medical help

1. Make an appointment with your doctor. If you notice any of the above symptoms in your child or yourself, make an appointment with your doctor or pediatrician for a consultation and an examination. Measles in Dutch children has been rare for over a decade, so recently graduated doctors may not have much experience with the signature rash.However, all experienced doctors will immediately recognize the characteristic blotchy rash, and especially the Koplik spots on the cheek mucosa (if applicable).
   • When in doubt, a blood test can confirm whether it is actually measles. The medical lab will look for the presence of IgM antibodies in the blood, produced by the body to fight the measles virus.
   • In addition, a viral culture can be grown and examined by taking samples of mucous membranes from your nasal passages, throat and / or cheek mucosa - if you have Koplik spots.
2. Get the right treatment. There is no specific treatment that can resolve a diagnosed case of measles right away, but some measures can be taken to reduce the severity of the symptoms. People who have not been vaccinated (including children) can receive the MBR vaccine within 72 hours of exposure to the paramyxovirus, which may help prevent symptoms from developing. However, as mentioned above, it often takes 10 days after an incubation period for the mild measles symptoms to begin, so the measles is unlikely to be detected within 72 hours of infection unless you pass through an area where many people clearly have the disease. to have.
   • Boosting the immune system is available for pregnant women, young children and people with weakened immune systems exposed to measles (and other viruses). Treatment consists of an injection of antibodies called immune serum globulin, which are ideally administered within six days of exposure to prevent symptoms from becoming severe.
   • Immune serum globulin and the MBR vaccine are allowed not administered simultaneously.
   • Medicines for reducing pain symptoms, and the moderate to severe fever associated with the measles rash, include: acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve). Never give aspirin to children or teens with measles to control a fever. Aspirin is approved for use in children over the age of three, but it can lead to Reye's syndrome (a potentially life-threatening condition) in children with chicken pox or flu-like symptoms - which can be confused with measles. Instead, give children acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve).
3. Avoid complications from measles. Although potentially deadly (especially in developing countries), measles cases are rarely serious, nor do they require medical intervention, unless the fever rises above 38 degrees Celsius. However, the potential complications of the measles are often much worse than the initial viral infection. Common complications resulting from measles include: bacterial ear infections, bronchitis, laryngitis, pneumonia (viral and bacterial), encephalitis (brain swelling), pregnancy problems and decreased blood clotting.
   • If you notice any other symptoms after measles or if you feel like the symptoms never disappeared, then you should see your doctor.
   • If you have a low vitamin A level, ask your doctor for an injection to reduce the severity of the measles and any complications. Medical dosages are usually 200,000 IU (International Units) over two days.

Tips

• Less common and serious measles symptoms include sneezing, swollen eyelids, photosensitivity, muscle pain, and joint pain.
• Test your eyes or wear sunglasses if you or your child becomes sensitive to bright light. Avoid watching TV or sitting close to your computer monitor for a few days.
• Measles prevention includes vaccination and quarantine - avoiding contact with people infected with the virus.