Measles

Measles is a infectious disease caused by paramyxovirus(Measles virus).

Causative agent: RNA paramyxovirus

Incubation Period: 10-14 days

Source of Infection: cases (carriers are not known)

Secondary attack rate of Measles is about  80%.

Period of Communicability: 4 days before and 5 days after the appearance of rash. It declines rapidly after appearance of rash.

Measles Rash

Symptoms : Fever >104F, Malaise, followed by 3C’s(Cough, Coryza, conjunctivitis), Rash(Retro-auricular origin, maculopapular)
Measles is highly infectious during pro-dromal period and during eruption.

Kopliks spots(Physical exam) appear as rash disappears.

WHO Measles elimination strategy comprises a three Part Vaccination strategy 

- Catch up 

- Keep up 

- Follow up

Treatment:

- Symptomatic treatment

- vitamin A (200,000 U daily for 2 days) reduces mortality in children < 2 y 

- Immunoglobulin administration (indicated for use in exposed individuals to alter clinical disease)

Complications:

1) Common complications of Measles:
– Diarrhoea
– Pneumonia and other respiratory complications
– Otitis media: Most Common in children

2) Serious complications of Measles:
– Febrile convulsions
– Encephalitis
– Sub-acute sclerosing pan-encephalitis (SSPE)

Sub-acute sclerosing pan-encephalitis (SSPE):
It is also called Dawson’s encephalitis, Dawson’s disease.