Causative Agent Of Measles | What Are The Symptoms And Treatment

Question:

What Is The Causative Agent Measles?

Answer:

Measles is an acute viral disease caused by RNA virus 1 stereotype, genus Morbillivirus in paramyxovirus family.

It is a highly infectious disease, is very common in children who have not been vaccinated against measles. And children living in unhygienic conditions may be at risk of getting measles.
It is a self limiting disease.
The only natural hosts are humans and primates
Transmission of measles: it is transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets discharged from sneezing or coughing by the patient.
Incubation period is generally from 8-12 days from exposure to onset of symptoms.
Patients become contagious from 1-2 days before the onset of symptoms to 4 days after the appearance of rash.

Symptoms Of Measles

Diagnosis of measles is suspected in a child who has not received the measles vaccine, and who after coming in contact with a case of measles, develops fever, dry cough, running of nose, and watering of eyes.
Koplick spot: they appear after 3 to 4 days. Koplick spot are white spot like grain of salt inside the cheek opposite the first and second upper molar teeth.
Rash appears the next day, first on hair line and then spreading downwards and to the whole body giving a red patchy appearance.
Fever shoots up to 104 degree F. fever remains for 3 days after the appearance of rash.
Ill looking child with loss of appetite.
After the rash fades, the skin may tend to peel off.

Complications of measles: Ear infections, pneumonia, lower respiratory tract infections and rarely encephalitis.

There is no specific treatment. Symptomatic treatment for cough is:- home made syrup of 2 parts of honey, one part of lime juice and basil juice is helpful.
Fever can be controlled by sponging with water.
Rest is necessary.
Consult your doctor for any complications.

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