Measles, also known as rubella, is a common childhood disease. Most adults have had it and expect their children to have it at some time during their childhood. Since it is contagious it often strikes in epidemics. Though measles are not as dangerous today as they were a few decades ago, there are a few things you should know about this highly communicable disease.

Symptoms

Measles is well known for its skin rash, which appears as flat red dots that may or may not flow into one another. However, measles is more than just a rash. It is really an infection of the respiratory tract. The first signs of this childhood disease are a runny nose, hacking cough, red eyes, sensitivity to light, irritability and a fever that runs as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 40,6 Celsius.

When the rash appears the fever peaks. The rash first appears on the forehead and moves down over the face and neck until it eventually covers the child’s entire body. For the first 48 hours after the rash appears, the child may look or be severely ill. After about three days, the measles rash will appear on the feet. Once this happens, symptoms should begin to subside.

The measles rash may come together to completely cover the skin of the face, neck and shoulders. The rash disappears in the same sequence as it appears; forehead, neck, body and feet. The total length of time from when the rash first appears until it is gone is usually six to seven days. When the rash disappears, the child’s skin may have a brownish tinge, which will disappear as the skin naturally sheds.

Koplik’s Spots

One specific sign that identifies a case of measles is Koplik’s spots. You will see these irregular, small, red spots that have a bluish-white center inside your child’s mouth. They appear one or two days before the measles rash and are most often found by the child’s physician, who is looking for the cause of a cough or fever.

Measles can have a wide variety of complications if proper care isn’t taken. The child’s body becomes very susceptible to ear infections, pneumonia, and viral infections that are caused by bacteria. Adults who contact measles suffer severe symptoms and complications of the disease and often have to be hospitalized.

Measles Description

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory infection that is caused by the measles virus. Years ago, before today’s medical technology, measles epidemics hit in the spring in a two or three year cycle. Often, the disease was fatal to a small majority of its victims. Today, measles is an illness that can most often be cared for at home. In very severe cases, which are rare, children with measles have to be hospitalized.

Who Gets Measles?

Infants, especially those who are breastfed are usually immune to the measles virus for eight months to a year. Older children are often immunized, though that trend is decreasing due to the link of autism and vaccines. Today, college campuses often experience outbreaks of measles. This may be due to lack of immunization against the disease, or possibly that by the time children are of college age, their immune systems are no longer protected.

Complications of the Measles Virus

Complications of the measles virus include croup, bronchiolitis, hepatitis, conjunctivitis and pneumonia.

Croup

Croup is not a singular illness, but a group of illnesses that involves inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. It comes with a deep, barky cough that increases in severity when the child cries. Croup is caused by viruses and often accompanies measles. Complications of croup can be ear infections and/or pneumonia.

Bronchiolitis

Bronchiolitis is an illness of the respiratory system that often accompanies the measles virus. Symptoms include runny nose, cough and stuffiness. The infection that causes bronchiolitis is highly contagious. The incubation period is approximately one week and as is the duration of the infection.

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can be caused by the measles virus. If your child’s pediatrician suspects he has contacted hepatitis, he will send the child for blood tests. This will confirm or reject the presence of hepatitis in your child. Be alert to the following: if your child has foul breath, light or white stools, dark colored urine or if the skin or whites of the eyes have a yellowish tinge during their bout with measles, contact a physician immediately.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a very general term that simply means the patient’s lungs are infected. Pneumonia can accompany measles. It begins in the nose and throat and moves into the lungs. Symptoms include fever, chills, vomiting and chest pain. However, because pneumonia that accompanies the measles virus is caused by a viral infection, symptoms aren’t usually severe. This type of pneumonia is contagious, as bacteria are found in salvia and mucous from the nose.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is mucous that drains from the eyes. You will see a white or greenish collection by the tear duct. Be sure to clean the eye gently with a clean washcloth or cotton ball. If symptoms worsen, contact your doctor.

Measles Protection

Measles can be prevented by a vaccine that is given to children from infancy to six years old. It can be administered as part of the vaccine schedule or within three days of exposure. However, use caution. The measles vaccine can have side effects in children who have had no previous health problems, though this is rare. In very special cases, people who have come into contact with measles can have an injection of gamma globulin, which are antibodies. This injection is usually reserved for infants, pregnant women and children who have cancer, HIV or other diseases that attack the immune system. Gamma Globulin must be given within six days of exposure to the measles virus in order to be effective. Immunizations are not compulsory for a child to attend school. If a school tells you that your child has to be immunized, explain that you know that this is not so. Schools and school districts cannot force you to immunize your child.

Incubation Period

The incubation period (time from exposure to outbreak of rash) is approximately fourteen days, but can be as few as ten days.

Duration

Measles last approximately two weeks from the time the first symptoms appear until the rash disappears. The first symptoms will usually appear 48 hours before the rash. The cough may last as long as the rash is visible or possibly a day or two longer. If, after that time period, the cough doesn’t abate, contact your child’s doctor in case there is another type of infection present.

Measles are Contagious

If your child has not been immunized and they come into contact with measles, they have a 90% chance of getting the disease. The measles virus is spread by fluid from the mouth, nose and in droplets that are airborne. Measles is contagious from five days after the child is exposed to the virus until five days after the rash breaks out on the feet.

Treating Measles at Home

In most cases measles can be treated at home, but the child should be seen by their family physician or pediatrician so their progress can be carefully monitored. Be sure you take the child’s temperature in the morning and evening, or if it worsens. Record the results. If your child’s temperature rises to 103 degrees Fahrenheit or 39.4 Celsius, administer a child’s fever medication, such as Tempra or acetaminophen. Never administer aspirin to your child when a viral illness, such as measles, is present. Research has proven that there aspirin given during viral illnesses can cause Reye’s syndrome.

Make certain your child drinks plenty of clear fluids while he has the measles virus. Clear fluids include water, apple juice, tea and flat ginger ale. The fluids that your child takes in replace those that are lost due to fever and sweating, as well as reduce the chances of pneumonia, by diluting and keeping secretions in the lungs from thickening.

If your child has the barking cough that often accompanies the measles virus, use a cool mist vaporizer to help soothe the respiratory tract. Be sure to clean the vaporizer well on a daily basis to prevent mould and bacteria from accumulating. Never use hot or steam vaporizers to treat the symptoms of measles.

Activity

Children who have measles should rest in bed because the measles virus causes eyes to be sensitive to light. Do not allow the child to watch TV, read or play on the computer. They should not be active or be allowed to engage in activity that is busy. They can resume academic classes in eight to ten days if the rash and fever have completely disappeared.

Professional Treatment of Measles

If you suspect your child has measles, contact his pediatrician or your family doctor immediately so she can confirm or reject the presence of the measles virus. If measles are present, she will give your pointers on how to care for your child in order to avoid complications. She will also notify the health authorities so they can track childhood immunization and measles outbreaks to prevent an epidemic.

Gamma Globulin injections are not effective if symptoms of the measles virus have begun to appear. Antibiotics are not effective. The disease has to run its course naturally. Keep your child as comfortable as possible and administer plenty of clear fluids and has plenty of bed rest.

If your child has measles, he will be more susceptible to bacterial infection of the ears and lungs. If this occurs, his doctor will prescribe antibiotics to treat the bacterial infection.

Call the Doctor

Call your child’s pediatrician or your family doctor if your child is exposed to the measles virus, or if you suspect that he has measles. If your child is still in infancy and has been exposed to measles, contact your doctor immediately. This is also important if your child is on medication that depresses the immune system, or if he has cancer, tuberculosis, HIV, or any other disease that affects his immune system.

Ask your doctor to give you pointers on what to watch for if your child becomes infected with the measles virus. Notify her if your child’s temperature worsens or if he develops an earache. These can be warning signs that your child has a bacterial infection and that antibiotics should be prescribed.

If your child experiences breathing difficulty, breathing that is rapid, or mucus that is discolored, a cough that lasts for more than five days, or if his lips or nails turn blue or gray, call the doctor immediately.

Other symptoms that need immediate medical attention include severe drowsiness, severe headache or a stiff neck. If your child loses consciousness, has a seizure, a convulsion or has difficulty waking, call 911 immediately.

Chances are your child will come through his bout of measles without any problems or complications. Keep an eye on him and if an incident arises of which you are unsure, seek the advice of a medical professional to assure your child heals without any adverse affects.