Measles - also known as rubeola - is a very contagious disease caused by the morbillivirus. It is spread by nose, mouth or throat secretions, usually through coughing and sneezing. The child is infectious for about three to six days before and several days after the rash appears. The usual incubation period is ten to 12 days.
Measles can be dangerous, in the short and long term. During the acute attack or shortly after, a child may suffer meningitis, pneumonia, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), or ear infection. Pneumonia may occur because of the measles virus itself, or a secondary bacterial infection. Encephalitis occurs in one or two in every 1,000 cases, and can be fatal. A rare delayed complication is subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), which affects the brain several years after the original measles attack.
Symptoms
The symptoms usually occur in this order: a temperature of 102xF or higher; fatigue; loss of appetite; runny nose and sneezing; cough; red eyes and sensitivity to light; tiny white spots in the mouth and throat; and a blotchy rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body, first the chest and abdomen, then arms and legs. The rash usually lasts seven days.
Treatment
Measles can only be treated with paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce temperature and muscle aching, a vaporiser, plenty of fluids to drink, and rest. If a child has a convulsion, or develops a severe headache and stiff neck, has difficulty in breathing, a discharge from the eyes or earache, or a fever lasting more than four days after the rash appears, a doctor should be contacted immediately.
Prevention
Measles can be prevented by immunisation that is normally given as part of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) in infancy.