Measles is an infectious disease that attacks the respiratory tract. This infection is one of the most contagious diseases in the world.
Measles is a contagious infectious disease caused by a paramyxovirus. This disease is one of the most contagious infections in the world because it can spread easily through droplet or splash water out of your nose or mouth when you sneeze, cough or talk.
The risk of complications that can be life-threatening makes anyone to be vigilant. Therefore, let’s look at the dangers, symptoms of measles and how to treat them below!
The Most Contagious Infection in the World, This Is the Danger of Measles
Apart from being highly contagious, measles is a disease with a risk of serious complications, even life threatening. This disease can be at risk of causing complications such as otitis media, pneumonia, encephalitis, to death.
In general, deaths from measles are associated with complications. Several serious complications most often occur in children aged 5 years and adults over 30 years. Very severe measles can occur in people with several congenital diseases such as pneumonia, patients with vitamin A deficiency, and patients with immune disorders such as HIV/AIDS.
Measles is still a common disease in several developing countries. According to data WHO, In 2018, measles was the cause of 140,000 deaths. This infection most often affects children under 5 years of age.
Measles is very easily transmitted, even just by crossing paths with sufferers. The virus that causes measles attacks the respiratory tract, which will spread throughout the body. Children who have never had the MMR vaccine (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) is one of the most at-risk groups of measles infection.
Symptoms of Measles
The symptoms that often appear in measles are as follows:
- Fever
- Cough
- Have a cold
- Watery eyes
- The appearance of a red rash on the skin
High fever usually appears 10 to 12 days after exposure to the virus and lasts 4-7 days. Colds, coughs, and reddish rashes will appear in the later phase. Usually the rash will appear on the face and upper neck. After 3 days, this rash will spread to the hands and feet, which can last up to 6 days.
Measles Treatment
Until now there is no specific antiviral drug for measles. However, some of the risks of serious complications can be reduced by consuming nutrient-rich foods and drinking enough water to prevent dehydration. This is to replace fluids lost when patients experience diarrhea or vomiting during infection.
If you go to the hospital, the doctor may prescribe antibiotic drugs to treat infections in the eyes, ears, or pneumonia that occurs due to measles. All pediatric patients diagnosed with measles must also receive two doses of vitamin A supplements given within 24 hours.
This treatment is to restore vitamin A levels in the body that have fallen due to measles. Giving vitamin A can also prevent eye damage and blindness due to complications of measles.
Proper Measles Prevention
Although until now there is no cure, measles can be prevented with routine vaccinations, especially for children.
Vaccination against measles has long been proven to be effective against measles. WHO recommends 2 doses of measles to strengthen immunity and prevent measles outbreaks.
Those are the dangers, symptoms, treatment and prevention of measles that you need to know. Hopefully the reviews above can help you to be more aware of measles infection.
