Measles: What parents need to know
What is Measles and how is it spread?
Measles is a highly infectious and deadly viral disease that is spread via respiratory droplets. These droplets are expelled into the via coughing or sneezing from person to person over short distances. These droplets can remain in the air for long periods of time.
Measles is highly contagious for those who are unvaccinated. Contagiousness of measles is rapid, and is present several days before and after initial rash symptoms, with patients most infectious when cough and sneezing symptoms are most severe.
What are the signs & symptoms of Measles?
- Fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Sore and red eyes (conjunctivitis - eye inflammation or infection)
The measles characteristic rash begins
to surface roughly 2-4 days after original symptoms, usually first
present on the face or behind the ears and then spreads
to the trunk and limbs. This rash lasts for around 3-5
days.
1. Respiratory droplets containing measles virus deliver it into the upper respiratory tract containing the nose, mouth and throat.
2. Once entered, it gets trapped by the tract's mucous lining, which is a moist layer composed of mucous that coats the surface of various organs and body cavities that acts the first line of defense against microbial and viral infiltration.
3. The virus then begins to spread from epithelial cells which cover the surface of our body to the immune system. The immune system is a large network of organs, white blood cells, as well as proteins and chemicals that work together to protect the body from foreign material. White blood cells are immune cells that fight infectious agents and prevent disease.
4. From there, the virus enters the bloodstream to spread to multiple organs including other lymph nodes that contain white blood cells, skin, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract (stomach and intestines) and the liver.
5. Once in these organs and tissues, the virus replicates inside white blood cells, as well as epithelial and endothelial cells that line blood vessels, lymph nodes and the heart. These endothelial cells normally regulate interactions between the bloodstream and tissues.
6. Finally, the virus then buds off from these cells to repeat
the cycle of transmission.
Who is at high risk for Measles?
During an outbreak, anyone not immunized is at risk of suffering infection of Measles.
People with an increased risk of developing fatal
measles complications include:
- Infants and children under the age of 5
- Patients with pre-existing chronic illnesses
- Pregnant women
- Adults
Case fatality rate of measles is highest in
children and infants.
Are there abnormalities that may occur following a Measles infection?
The body's cells and cellular processes can suffer significant impacts when infected with Measles virus.
Measles infection can cause abnormalities in an individual's immune response:
- Once the virus has spread throughout the body, the virus infects specific white blood cells called lymphocytes such as memory "T-cells" and "B-cells" that eliminate infected cells and foreign material. As a result, the body's blood-lymphocyte levels begin to deplete, which impact the body's immune system to defend against measles as well as other diseases.
Children with
measles in particular have been found to suffer from low blood-lymphocyte levels known as lymphopenia. These
abnormalities mainly include decreased replicative responses of immune
cells.
This as a result negatively influences immune cellular responses:
- Inflammation is a process where white blood cells fight off invading particles by engulfing them or secreting proteins. Specific types of T lymphocytes that normally promote inflammation in response to an infection are found to be suppressed in measles due to the activation of other T lymphocytes that work to suppress inflammation. This causes anti-inflammatory proteins to remain in the body for prolonged periods of time.
- Antibodies are proteins secreted by B cells that recognize, memorize and bind to specific foreign invaders to prevent them from carrying out their functions and mark them for elimination. In measles infections, research has also found that the body's cellular responses are impacted by the alteration of disease-specific antibody responses.
As a result of this dampened inflammatory response, measles infected children become vulnerable to becoming infected by other bacteria and viruses for potentially weeks following measles.
The only way to reverse this is by eliminating measles-infected lymphocytes to prevent further complications.
What are the complications
of Measles?
Complications refers to a secondary disease that can develop during or after a disease or treatment.
Complication risk is increased with:
- Age extremities
- Pregnancy
- Weak immune system
- Lack of nutrition
In uncomplicated measles, recovery begins soon following rash appearance. However, complications occur in up to 40% of patients. Measles complications include:
- Diarrhoea and vomiting - can further lead to dehydration and lack of nutrition
- Otitis media - middle ear infection/inflammation
- Encephalitis - brain inflammation that affects every 1 in 1000 measles cases. 10-15% die and 10-40% suffer permanent brain damage
- Pneumonia - lung inflammation that causes 60% of deaths measles deaths. This risk is increased by measles-induced immune suppression and dysfunction in the lungs.
- Respiratory infections - E.g., bronchitis (inflammation of lung tube lining that carries air to and from the lungs), croup (swelling of the airway passages or windpipe) or laryngitis (inflammation of voice box or larynx)
- Pregnancy issues - potential miscarriage or premature labour
- Subacute sclerosing panencaphalitis - extremely rare progressive inflammation of the brain that occurs in about 1 in 100,000 measles cases. This complication arises normally 7 years after measles infection and leads to brain degeneration and death.
- Keratoconjunctivitis - eye infection common in children with vitamin A deficiency and often leads to blindness
How can I treat my child with Measles?
Although there are no current antiviral treatments that exist for measles, there are ways to treat symptoms which may be
experienced.
Most common treatments include:
- Drinking fluids such as water
to prevent the child from being dehydrated
- Consuming paracetamol or
ibuprofen to relieve fever
- Isolating to prevent
transmission
- Having antibiotics for
bacterial infections which may develop
- Vitamin A supplements
However, you should keep alert of any complications your child may develop such as ear infections, pneumonia, and swelling of the head which may be life-threatening. Thus, seek out a medical practitioner for aid.
Is there a vaccine for
Measles and is it safe?
Measles is most effectively be prevented
through the usage of MMR vaccines. Research has revealed that this
is a safe and effective way to prevent children and
adolescents from being affected by measles, mumps, and rubella.
This vaccine consists of
two dosages, one given at 12-15 months of ages and the second dosage given at
4-6 years of age. This vaccine may have various minor side effects such as
- Fever
- Drowsiness
and tiredness
- Head cold & runny nose
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