Measles in infants symptoms and treatment. Symptoms, treatment and prevention of measles in children. Periods of measles and characteristic signs

When affected by measles most often symptomatic therapy is prescribed, including taking anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and antitussive drugs, it is very important to observe bed rest.

Therapy also includes the use of drugs to combat conjunctivitis.

The action of the funds is aimed at reducing temperature, inflammation, their intake also helps to reduce the manifestations of the common cold, conjunctivitis, tracheitis, laryngitis.

Avoid taking aspirin-based drugs, since their use is accompanied by an increase in vascular permeability, which provokes an increase in the common cold and the formation of hemorrhages in the mucous membranes and skin.

Antibiotics are not recommended in the absence of complications., as they do not have any effect on the infection. In the early stages, interferon is shown, which is instilled into the eyes and nose.

Immunoglobulin administered subcutaneously also has a good effect., the agent is characterized by a directed action, as it contains ready-made proteins.

To eliminate signs of conjunctivitis special drops and ointments are used, the action of which is aimed at improving the general condition and preventing the development of complications.

Most often, hydrocartisone ointment, furacilin solution 1%, sulfacyl sodium 20% are prescribed.

oral care

Often the course of measles is accompanied by stomatitis, for the treatment of which oral care is necessary, rinsing with eucalyptus tincture has a good effect.

Folk remedies

In the treatment of the disease, along with traditional methods, folk remedies are used. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the importance of a medical examination and qualified specialist assistance.

Recipes:

Is a diet necessary?

At high temperature, characteristic of the initial stage of the development of the disease, one should not overload the body with heavy food, in this case it is recommended to give preference to dairy and sour-milk products.

With no appetite the child needs to be given compotes, lingonberry and cranberry fruit drinks, freshly squeezed juices.

As the temperature stabilizes vegetarian soups, milk porridges are gradually introduced into the diet, after which you can move on to ordinary fruits, stews, cereals and salads. The menu is also recommended to include greens (spinach, lettuce, parsley, dill).

As the condition improves when the rash begins to go away, stewed, boiled or steamed meat and lean fish are introduced into the diet.

Switching to a normal diet occurs after the final disappearance of the rash and all symptoms. The menu should be balanced, the products should include all the necessary vitamins and minerals.

Bathing

Many believe that a child with measles should not be washed, which is not true. Dirty skin contains many bacteria that can cause complications.

The well-being of a patient with a fever, sweating and not washing, only worsens.

A child with measles needs to wash their hands several times a day., wash your face and wipe your body, bathing is recommended at a water temperature of 37 degrees.

Can a vaccinated child get measles?

It must be taken into account that even timely vaccination cannot guarantee complete protection against infection the chance of getting sick is always there.

The vaccine provides some protection but you shouldn't rely on it completely.

The most effective prevention of the disease is considered to be the absence of contact with measles-infected patients.

Prevention

Disease prevention involves early diagnosis and isolation of the patient up to 4 days from the onset of the rash, in the presence of complications - up to 10 days.

children susceptible to measles from 8 to 17 days from the moment of contact with an infected patient, they are not allowed to visit children's institutions.

Active vaccination plays an important role in disease prevention., the accumulation of antibodies begins 7-15 days after the introduction of the vaccine.

Vaccination is mandatory for all children under the age of one who have not had measles, the vaccine is widely used as an emergency prophylactic to eliminate outbreaks in organizations and institutions.

Passive immunization is given to children under the age of 3 years, pregnant women and patients suffering from tuberculosis and reduced immunity.

For these purposes, immunoglobulin is used, which is administered within 5 days after contact with the carrier of the disease.

How to protect yourself and children from measles? - the program "Live healthy!"

Measles is a rather dangerous disease., which most often affects young children, is accompanied by complications, involves drug treatment as prescribed by a doctor, and the use of folk remedies is also allowed.

An excellent preventive measure is vaccination, after which the likelihood of infection is significantly reduced, but not excluded.

Measles (morbilli) is a highly contagious acute viral infection, manifested by high (febrile) temperature, specific exanthema, symptoms of general intoxication, generalized inflammatory lesions of the pharyngeal mucosa, conjunctiva and respiratory organs. The source of infection is a sick person, forms of measles, which can occur not only with a typical picture, but also atypical. The disease is also dangerous due to the possibility of developing various complications, which is especially dangerous with weakened immunity. Let's find out what measles looks like in children in the photo, what are the causes and symptoms of the disease, as well as the treatment and prevention methods that must be followed.

What is measles?

Measles is an acute viral disease of an infectious nature, transmitted, as a rule, by airborne droplets.
This disease is ill only 1 time. After it, a person develops immunity. However, not only the pathology itself is dangerous, but also the consequences that it can provoke.

A sick person always acts as a source of infection. Often it is dangerous for people around from the 7th day of infection, and especially when a rash appears. The measles virus ceases to enter the environment on the 4th day from the moment the elements appear on the skin, and from that day on, the person becomes non-infectious.

Measles depletes the immune system and for several months after illness, protection against infections is weakened. During this period, the child often gets sick. Therefore, try not to visit mass gatherings of people with your baby. Feed him protein and vitamin food, walk more in the fresh air.

The reasons

Measles is most common in children under 5 years of age. Adults who have not undergone mandatory vaccination get sick less often, but their risk of infection is very high, and the disease is more severe than in children. In the spring-winter period, the peak incidence is noted, and the decline occurs in August and September. After recovery, persistent lifelong immunity is maintained with the preservation of anti-measles antibodies in the blood.

Infants under 1 year of age practically cannot get measles, since antibodies received from the mother remain in their blood, but gradually by the year their number decreases, respectively increasing the risk of developing the disease without vaccination. When a pregnant woman is infected, the virus can be transmitted through the placenta to the fetus and the development of congenital measles.

Incubation period

For prevention in preschool settings, children with measles symptoms should be limited to 5 days after the onset of the first rash.

How measles manifests itself: photos of children with a rash

Measles can be distinguished from other diseases by the nature of the course. At first, a temperature of up to 39 degrees appears, then they turn red, the eyes begin to water and fester.

Pay attention to the photo - Velsky-Filatov spots on the mucous membrane of the cheeks are also a symptom of measles in children at the initial stage:

Symptoms of measles in children

Oddly enough, but how measles begins, even the most astute parent will not see. This insidious disease develops in stages, and the initial period can last weeks and not manifest itself at all. The child will continue to have fun and play, and the malicious virus will thus undermine his body from the inside.

The first signs of measles are very similar to the symptoms of SARS. The child has:

cough,
runny nose,
the temperature rises.

This period is considered the first and is called the incubation period.

The most characteristic sign of measles disease are spots at the base of the molars. They occur due to the fact that the virus destroys the mucous membrane. She is getting thinner. White spots are surrounded by a red swollen border. On this basis, measles can be distinguished from other diseases that have similar manifestations.

The course of measles in a child is a sequential change of 3 stages:

catarrhal period;
rash stage;
convalescence period.

Each of them has its own time range and corresponding symptoms.

In the table, we will consider how measles manifests itself at different stages.

	Description of symptoms
catarrhal period	Lasts in children from 3 to 5 days. At this time, a number of symptoms similar to the common cold appear, which are caused by the circulation of the virus in the blood (viremia): body temperature in some cases rises to 39 degrees, runny nose appears dry cough, eyelid redness, there is insomnia vomiting, loss of consciousness and short-term convulsions are sometimes noted. During this period, activity in children decreases. They become lethargic, capricious and inactive due to weakness. Sleep is disturbed and appetite worsens.
rashes	The measles rash appears 3-4 days after the onset of the disease. The period of rashes lasts 4-5 days. The beginning of the precipitation period is due to the rise in the maximum temperature. A typical measles rash begins to form on the skin and mucous membranes. On the first day, bright burgundy spots can be found only on the head, face and neck of the child. On the second day, rashes can be seen on the arms, chest and back. On the third day, the measles rash spreads to the whole body, legs and feet. At the same time, the rash on the face and head is already brightening.
Pigmentation	From about the fourth day of the rash period, the condition of the crumbs begins to improve. The baby is no longer contagious. The pigmentation stage can last 7-10 days. The spots gradually lighten, disappear: first cleanse the skin of the face, neck, hands, then the torso and legs. After the rash does not leave traces and scars on the skin.

Any of these symptoms should be a reason to see a doctor. If necessary, a pediatric therapist will refer a small patient to highly specialized specialists for additional examination.

Complications

Various consequences arise due to a weakened immune system, due to which a viral infection is complicated by an attached bacterial one. Secondary bacterial pneumonia is often diagnosed in patients with measles. Rare, but possible stomatitis.

Most often it is:

otitis;
laryngitis;
bronchopneumonia;
stomatitis;
glossitis;
blindness;
encephalitis;
inflammation of the lymph nodes of the neck;
tracheobronchitis;
polyneuritis;
CNS damage.

Diagnostics

general blood and urine tests;
serological examination (detection of antibodies to the measles virus in the child's blood serum);
isolation from the blood of the virus;
chest x-ray (done only in exceptional cases);
electroencephalography (performed only in the presence of complications on the nervous system).

Despite the severity of the disease, the prognosis for childhood measles is favorable.

If the child has measles, the local pediatrician should examine the patient as often as possible, at least once every two days. This will help prevent dangerous consequences. Most complications require immediate hospitalization of the child.

measles treatment

The disease is quite severe at any age, so parents have a completely logical question, how to treat measles in a child, what methods are currently considered the most effective.

Measles is treated on an outpatient basis in most cases. Hospitalization in the infectious diseases department is required in case of a severe course of the disease with complications. Compliance with bed rest is necessary throughout the entire period of fever and in the next two days after normalization of temperature.

Symptomatic treatment includes the appointment of such groups of drugs:

antipyretic;
antitussives;
eye drops for conjunctivitis (for example, Albucid or Retinol);
vasoconstrictor drops for the nose from the common cold;
expectorants;
antiviral (Arbidol, Interferon, Gripferon);
anti-inflammatory drugs for sore throat;
antihistamines (Loratadine, Cetirizine, Levocetirizine)
immunomodulators;
antiseptics for gargling.

Antibacterial therapy for measles in children is not prescribed, because the disease is viral, not bacterial in nature.

Interestingly, children who are deficient in vitamin A are the most severely ill. Therefore, WHO recommends taking it 2 days during treatment to speed up recovery.

The following procedures will also be of great benefit, which, however, do not cancel drug treatment:

rinsing the oral mucosa with a weak solution of soda (1 tsp per glass of water);
washing eyes with boiled water;
cleaning the nose with cotton flagella soaked in warm vaseline oil;
use of moisturizers for the treatment of dry skin of the lips.

Compliance with the regime

High-quality care for children with measles by parents and other households will help to significantly increase the effectiveness of the therapy prescribed by the doctor, and, therefore, will speed up the recovery of the child and prevent the development of complications, sometimes life-threatening.

A child with measles needs bed rest while the temperature persists. If possible, give him a separate room. Wet cleaning should be carried out at least 2 times a day. It is very important that the air always remains fresh, so ventilate the room more often.
If bright light causes discomfort, then close the curtains, and in the evening, turn on a table lamp instead of a chandelier.
Protect the mucous membrane of the lips from cracking with regular lubrication with petroleum jelly or baby cream; animal fats can also be used for lubrication;
At home, gargling with a solution of soda or decoctions of chamomile, calendula is carried out. They can also be used to wash the eyes.
With measles, an abundant warm fortified drink is shown: freshly squeezed vegetable and fruit juices, compotes, fruit drinks, alkaline mineral waters, tea, infusions and decoctions of medicinal plants.
Food should be warm, but not hot. It is best to cook mashed and semi-liquid dishes for the child. Such food is the least irritating for a sore throat.
A very important preventive measure is the daily change of underwear and bed linen. This is necessary so that the rash in the child does not occur again. You should also regularly ventilate the room in which the sick baby spends time, and carry out wet cleaning every day.
Follow the daily routine. Although sleep is disturbed and insomnia has appeared, try to go to bed on time. This is especially true for children.

Prevention

The main role in the prevention of measles in children belongs to active immunization. Vaccination is based on the process of artificially creating an immune response to infections by introducing into the body the protein components of bacteria and viruses that cause the development of infectious processes.

When the first signs of the disease appear, parents are obliged to isolate the child from other children, call the local pediatrician to the house; if the child attended a children's institution (kindergarten, school), the mother must inform this institution about the child's illness.

isolation of children with measles from the team;
compliance with quarantine measures in groups for 21 days;
regular airing and wet cleaning of the premises, especially if there was a sick child;
timely administration of immunoglobulin to contact children no later than 3-5 days from the moment of contact;
scheduled vaccination and revaccination of children according to the vaccination schedule.

Re-infection with measles is extremely rare. After the illness, immunity is lifelong. After vaccination, persistent immunity is maintained for 15 years. Noticing the appearance of a rash in a child, you should consult a doctor, he will help you with his explanations. It is important to remember that it is not the virus itself that is dangerous, but the negative consequences in the form of complications that it often has.

Measles is an infectious disease that is transmitted by airborne droplets. A child who has not been vaccinated will get sick with a 100% probability upon contact with an infected person. Such a percentage of susceptibility is not observed in almost any other diseases.

Measles in children occurs in an acute form, especially between the ages of 2 and 5 years. The virus of the disease enters the body through the respiratory tract, and then spreads through the bloodstream. With this disease, the mucous membranes of the eyes, the oral cavity and the respiratory organs are mainly affected, a characteristic rash, conjunctivitis appears, and the temperature rises.

Causes of measles

The cause of the spread of infection is always a sick person. The virus enters the air through droplets of saliva released when coughing, sneezing or talking, and then "moves" into the respiratory tract of a nearby child. The patient is considered contagious during the last two days of the virus incubation period and up to the 4th day of the rash.

Measles in children under one year old is extremely rare, because they still have little contact with the outside world and strangers. In addition, newborns are protected by maternal antibodies. In infants, the disease may not proceed quite normally and differ in the following signs: lack of temperature, slight runny nose, mild redness in the oral cavity.

At the same time, in babies of the first year of life, complications can be observed that, in severity, exceed measles itself and primarily affect the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

In children who have been ill, immunity to the disease persists until the end of their lives. If the mother has had measles in the past, then the child will be resistant to the disease until the age of 3 months. It is this period of time that maternal antibodies are found in the baby's blood. Also, after vaccination, immunity develops and the child will be protected from measles.

Symptoms and stages of the disease

Measles symptoms: 1 and 4 - rash; 2 - symptom of Belsky-Filatov-Koplik; 3 - enanthema in the prodromal period

Measles is an insidious disease that develops in stages. In the early days, the disease may not manifest itself at all, the children remain cheerful and playful. The virus that spreads through the child's body is still completely invisible to the sensitive eyes of the parents. This is the insidiousness of the very first period of the course of the disease, and there are four of them in total.

1. Incubation period

This is the time period that begins at the time of infection and continues until the first signs of the disease appear. It is generally accepted that this period in children is 7-14 days. At this stage, the virus in the body multiplies "quietly", there are no symptoms of measles, absolutely nothing bothers the child. In this case, the baby becomes contagious to others only in the last 5 days of the incubation period.

2. Catarrhal period

During this period, the child develops symptoms that strongly resemble a cold:

general malaise, weakness, lack of appetite;
an increase in body temperature up to 40 ° C;
headache;
dry cough;
runny nose and hoarse voice;
increased lacrimation, swelling and redness of the eyelids, conjunctivitis (drops and ointments for conjunctivitis);
abdominal pain and loose stools;
runny nose with purulent mucous discharge from the nose;
lacrimation, photophobia;
Infants may experience weight loss.

Documentary

The catarrhal period of the disease lasts no more than four days, during which all the symptoms of measles gradually become more severe. At the moment when all manifestations reach the highest levels, a rash begins to appear.

3. Eruption period

As already noted, the rash appears at the time of the peak state of all signs of the disease. Spots of a dark red hue appear primarily on the head. Gradually growing and merging with each other, they form large foci of rashes. It is for this reason that the child's face swells, and the lips become dry and often crack.

On the second day of this period, the rash begins to appear on the arms and upper body. The third day is characterized by the appearance of rashes on the entire body of the child. The duration of the entire period is 4 days.

The period of rashes is characterized by a decrease in body temperature, a weakening of cough and the appearance of appetite. The child becomes mobile and active. About a week after the onset of the rash, the catarrhal symptoms disappear completely.

4. Stage of pigmentation

The rash leaves behind age spots, the appearance of which occurs in the same sequence: first on the face, then throughout the body. These spots gradually begin to peel off and eventually disappear completely.

At the stage of pigmentation, the child's condition gradually returns to normal, sleep and appetite are fully restored, and body temperature does not exceed normal values.

Non-standard forms of measles

If a child has measles, you may not always notice the development of this disease. Measles may not proceed as usual, but in a different form. Such forms of the course of the disease are called atypical.

Mitigated form

Children who have been in contact with an infected child receive immunoglobulin for prophylaxis. In such children, the overall picture of the disease becomes blurred:

the incubation period lasts 21 days;
in the catarrhal period there is a slight cough and runny nose;
all periods of the course of the disease, except for incubation, are reduced;
rashes are not plentiful and appear without observing the staging;
there are no characteristic spots on the cheeks;
pigmentation is less dark.

Abortive measles

With such an atypical form, all signs of the disease appear according to the standard scheme. But after about 2-3 days, all the symptoms of the disease disappear sharply. The rash focuses on the face and upper body.

Erased form

This form of measles strongly resembles mitigated. Here, the catarrhal signs of the disease are just as insignificant. However, unlike the mitigated form, the erased form is characterized by the absence of a rash. This factor greatly hinders the correct diagnosis.

Memo - Beware Measles!

Diagnosis of the disease

Often it is difficult or even impossible to recognize the disease only by external manifestations. This is especially true for atypical forms of the disease. In addition, the first signs of measles strongly resemble a cold, which can mislead anyone.

To make a reliable diagnosis, your child must be sent to the following types of laboratory tests:

general blood analysis;
general urine analysis;
serology (detection of antibodies to the measles virus in the blood);
detection of the measles virus in the blood.

Additionally, the child can be sent for a chest x-ray, and if there are complications from the nervous system, for electroencephalography.

In most cases, with the standard development of the disease, the diagnosis does not cause difficulties and laboratory tests are simply superfluous.

Treatment

There are no special methods for treating measles, the body will cope with the infection on its own. The treatment here is symptomatic, which will alleviate the general condition of the sick child:

antipyretic drugs at elevated body temperature;
cough medicines, depending on its type (different medicines are used for wet and dry);
remedies for runny nose and sore throat;
drinking plenty of fluids and bed rest.

During the period of illness, it is also important to provide the child with the necessary vitamin complexes to maintain immunity, and lubricate chapped lips with petroleum jelly.

Symptomatic treatment is carried out at home under the supervision of a pediatrician. The child is placed in the hospital department if complications begin to develop. In the presence of complications, therapy is supplemented with antibacterial drugs.

Complications of the disease

Complications develop, as a rule, in children under 5 years of age or in adults “over 20”. The most common of them:

otitis;
laryngitis;
stomatitis;
encephalitis;
inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck;
bronchopneumonia.

Complications that occur in young children can hardly be called a rare occurrence. That is why it is necessary to treat the baby under the strict supervision of the local pediatrician. Ideally, if the doctor will visit your child at least once every three days.

Why are there such consequences? Everything is very simple. The measles virus can suppress the immunity of a small patient, and this is an excellent circumstance for the bacteria surrounding the child. They are provided with “free entry” into the baby’s body, and they are not slow to take advantage of this. Depending on the type of bacteria entering the child's body, more than the above complications may occur. It is quite possible to have a disorder of the stool, conjunctivitis, and even problems from the central nervous system.

The immunity of the baby is reduced at the stage of rashes and may not recover earlier than a month later. Therefore, during treatment, it is important to follow basic hygiene procedures, and not to stop seeing a doctor even after recovery.

Prevention

The first step in preventing the disease is to limit contact with sick children. A child with signs of this infection should be isolated from other (not ill) children for the entire period when he is contagious. The patient's room should be regularly ventilated, and wet cleaning is also needed in it.

In the first 5 days after contact, children who have been in contact with the patient are given a special immunoglobulin, which helps them not to get sick. Such a measure is taken in relation to babies who have not previously been vaccinated.

It's important to know! Immunoglobulin is administered only to immunocompromised children under the age of three.

But the most reliable helper in the prevention of measles is vaccination.

Video: how to protect yourself and children from measles

Graft

We have already said that the vaccine is the most effective method in preventing measles. Vaccination is an artificial infection with a virus. But its concentration is so low that the child's body copes with the infection on its own and at the same time produces protective antibodies.

After vaccination it is possible:

a slight increase in temperature;
the appearance of conjunctivitis;
small rash on the body.

All this is completely safe and passes in 2-3 days.

Note! The vaccine is contraindicated in immunocompromised children with blood or heart disease. The vaccine is live measles bacteria. You can vaccinate a child only if there are no contraindications.

The first vaccination is carried out in children at the age of one year, revaccination - at 6 years. Further, you can hope for a long-term effect that provides your child with protection from the virus for 15 years. Look vaccination calendar

Measles is not a pleasant disease. In addition, in young children, it is often complicated by other unpleasant diseases that can do much more harm than measles itself. At the same time, babies who have been ill with this sore once acquire lifelong immunity.

Vaccination against measles is a reliable method of preventing the disease, but it is not a panacea. Before agreeing to vaccination, you must make sure that the child has strong immunity and there are no other contraindications.

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Other Common Childhood Illnesses

Good time, dear readers.

Many childhood infectious diseases have a similar clinical picture - rash, fever, weakness, lack of appetite. Some pathologies proceed without any special complications, while others are very dangerous.

One of the most contagious and serious diseases is measles, the symptoms in children are very pronounced. For a small child, the disease can be fatal.

How to recognize measles at an early stage? How to treat, how to protect the baby - we will look for answers to all these questions today.

Measles in children - ways of infection

Measles is a viral pathology that is most dangerous for children under one year old - they do not have antibodies to the infection, since they are vaccinated later. One of the main signs is a red rash on the face and body, which occurs against the background of poisoning the body with toxic waste products of viruses. Pathological processes affect the upper respiratory tract, conjunctiva.

Measles is transmitted by airborne droplets, the virus survives well in the environment, so you can get infected not only through direct contact, but even while in the same room with a sick person.

The chance of getting measles in an unvaccinated child through contact with an infected person is almost 100%.

Types of disease

Measles can occur in a typical form - all the characteristic symptoms appear sequentially, or in an atypical form - the clinical picture is blurred, the signs of pathology are mild.

Forms of atypical measles:

Abortive - typical signs of measles appear within 1-2 days, then the development of the pathology is abruptly interrupted. Rashes are insignificant, have a pale pink color, pass on their own within a few days.
Migrated - signs of intoxication, catarrhal symptoms are mild, there are few rashes, they quickly disappear. You can recognize the pathology by the spots that appear on the gums near the base of the tooth. In this form, the disease often occurs after an injection of gamma globulin - an injection is given to prevent infection if there is a person in the house with measles.
Erased - the symptoms are blurred, the rash and other signs of measles in the child do not appear at all, which greatly complicates the diagnosis.
Asymptomatic - the disease proceeds like a common cold.

Atypical measles occurs only in vaccinated children, the disease is mild, but sometimes there are complications.

If a child has had a typical measles, then in the future he is not threatened with re-infection - the body develops a stable lifelong immunity to the virus.

Periods of measles and characteristic signs

The duration of the incubation period of a viral infection is 8-21 days, after which signs of the disease begin to appear. The virus becomes most active towards the end of the incubation period, and over the next few days - it is at this time that a sick child is contagious, he should exclude any contact with other children.

Typical measles develops in a certain sequence, goes through 3 stages of development.

catarrhal

At the initial stage, measles in children is similar to the common cold, there is a cough, runny nose, fever, appetite worsens, the child feels sick. Within 3-4 days, unpleasant symptoms intensify.

Signs of the catarrhal stage of measles:

Strong headache:
profuse clear or purulent discharge from the nose, sneezing;
cough dry, barking, voice becomes hoarse;
conjunctivitis develops - the eyelids swell, the eyes turn red, purulent discharge accumulates in the corners;
increased lacrimation, intolerance to bright light;
enlargement, soreness of the lymph nodes;
abdominal pain, diarrhea;
sleep deprivation, tearfulness.

One of the main signs of measles is white spots with a red border near the base of the teeth, since the virus negatively affects the condition of the oral mucosa. This symptom allows you to distinguish measles from false croup, whooping cough, chickenpox, rubella.

At the initial stage, measles is accompanied by a strong increase in temperature, while it is poorly controlled by antipyretics, which is fraught with the appearance of convulsions, confusion, or loss of consciousness. During the catarrhal stage, immunity is sharply reduced, therefore, the addition of other infections is often observed, most often laryngotracheitis develops due to inflammation of the pharynx, swelling of the mucosa.

The period of rashes, the stage of pigmentation

After the end of the first stage, a light pink rash appears on the face and behind the ears, the rashes gradually darken, acquire a bright red color.

The temperature stays at 39-40 degrees, the lips crack, the face swells, the nose and eyes swell, cough and runny nose almost disappear. The rashes descend lower, spread to the back and stomach, this period lasts 3-4 days, the temperature begins to gradually decrease, the child has an appetite.

Pigmentation stage - the rash turns into irregularly shaped spots of pale blue color, gradually turns brown, spreads similarly to a rash - from the face to the neck, further throughout the body. Recovery occurs after 7-14 days, when the skin is completely cleared.

Why is measles dangerous?

If measles proceeds without complications, recovery occurs after 2 weeks, but, unfortunately, such a favorable course of the disease is rare in unvaccinated children.

Possible complications:

viral or bacterial pneumonia, bronchitis, intestinal pathologies;
the measles virus often penetrates into the brain tissue, which is fraught with the development of encephalitis, meningitis - the disease can manifest itself 3-5 days after the onset of the rash, with a weakened immune system, death is possible;
otitis, chronic tonsillitis;
violation of the functions of the small and large intestine;
inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes;
inflammatory processes in the kidneys, bladder;
purulent, long healing ulcers.

Some doctors associate an attack of appendicitis with measles, but there is no reliable data on such a relationship yet. But you need to be on the lookout, because inflammation of the appendix is very dangerous for young children, especially with weakened immune systems.

Diagnosis and treatment

An external examination does not always allow you to accurately differentiate measles from allergies, other infectious diseases, so it is necessary to do tests to clarify the diagnosis. The main diagnostic methods are a clinical blood test, a swab from the nasopharynx to detect antibodies to the measles virus, with the development of complications, the doctor may prescribe an electroencephalogram, a chest x-ray.

Mild measles can be treated at home. But if the disease is severe, complications arise, the mother and baby are placed in a hospital. Therapy is aimed at eliminating the manifestations of the disease, strengthening the immune system.

How to treat measles in a child:

antipyretics - Panadol, Ibuprofen;
antitussive drugs - Stoptussin;
antihistamines - Suprastin, Diazolin, eliminate swelling of tissues and mucous membranes, reduce the amount of rash;
drugs to improve sputum discharge - Ambrobene;
eye drops - Albucid;
vasoconstrictor nasal drops - Otrivin, Tizin, they can be used for no more than 5-6 days, otherwise the drugs are addictive;
complex preparations with a high content of ascorbic acid, vitamin A;
immunoglobulin injections - help restore immunity;
when signs of severe dehydration appear against a background of high temperature, it is necessary to give the child every 5-10 minutes a sip of Regidron.

Are antivirals effective?

Doctors constantly argue about the benefits and expediency of taking these drugs, many experts believe that they only have a placebo effect, like homeopathic remedies.

If you start giving your child Interferon, Arbidol immediately when the first signs of the disease appear, you can significantly reduce the risk of complications.

With measles, you do not need to take antibiotics; with viral infections, these drugs are absolutely useless.

But many doctors prescribe them for reinsurance, since there is a high probability of joining bacterial pathologies. To give or not to give your child antibacterial agents is up to you.

During the treatment of measles, it is important to observe bed rest, it is necessary to ventilate the room more often, and do wet cleaning.

The diet of a sick child should be dominated by plant foods, dairy products, light soups, cereals. Strengthen the immune system will help dietary meat and fish dishes - steam cutlets, pates, soufflé. In order not to irritate the mucous throat, all dishes should have a comfortable temperature and a soft texture.

Drinking plenty of water is the key to a speedy recovery, give your child warm weak tea, a decoction of chamomile or linden, an infusion of rose hips, compotes, non-acidic fruit drinks.

How to avoid infection

Prevention of measles is planned and emergency. Children are vaccinated against measles, according to the vaccination schedule, at the age of 1 and at 6 years - a live attenuated measles virus is injected. The immunity that is developed in this case is not lifelong, it gradually weakens over 15 years. But in vaccinated children, the disease always proceeds in a mild form, complications rarely occur.

Sometimes from 6 to 20 days after vaccination, the child may have a fever, develop conjunctivitis, a small rash appears all over the body - such symptoms should not cause concern, they disappear on their own within a few days.

Contraindications for vaccination - diseases of the heart, blood, infectious diseases in the acute stage, nephritis, rheumatism.

What is emergency prophylaxis

A single injection of gamma globulin intramuscularly to unvaccinated children aged 3 months to 4 years in contact with an infected person.

This method is effective only during the incubation period, if catarrhal signs of the disease appear, this procedure is useless, immunity lasts for 4 weeks.

Conclusion

Until a few decades ago, measles was rarely diagnosed in children, but recently outbreaks of the disease are being diagnosed more often - this is due to the refusal of many parents to vaccinate.

Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease that is transmitted by airborne droplets and manifests itself in the form of a rash on the skin, as well as damage to the upper respiratory tract, eyes, and is accompanied by symptoms of general intoxication of the body.

Measles is more common in children of preschool and school age, so this disease is classified as a childhood infectious disease.

By itself, measles is not dangerous for the life of a child, but it often leads to complications such as pneumonia, purulent otitis media, meningitis or meningoencephalitis, which, if not treated in time, can lead to death.

Therefore, we want to tell you in detail how measles manifests itself in children and adults and how to treat it, what effective methods of preventing this disease exist. In addition, we will analyze the symptoms and treatment of measles in adults.

Measles disease: characteristics of the pathogen

The causative agent of measles is a small spherical virus (120-230 nm) belonging to the Paramyxovirus family.

The measles virus consists of a single strand of RNA and a shell, which is built from lipoproteins. Also, the pathogen has a set of antigens such as hemolysin, hemagglutinin, nucleocapsid and membrane protein. Hemolysin is able to cause hemolysis of red blood cells.

This paramyxovirus is unstable in the external environment, as it instantly dies under the influence of disinfectants, high temperatures and direct sunlight. But, at the same time, at room temperature, the pathogen can exist for 1-2 days, and when frozen - 2 weeks.

How is the disease spread?

The source of the measles virus is a sick person with an overt or latent infection. The patient becomes contagious at the end of the incubation period, that is, 3 days before the rash appears, and remains contagious for 4-5 days after the rash.

The transmission mechanism of measles is aerogenic (through the air), and direct infection occurs by airborne droplets.

This requires that particles of mucus that contain the virus, when coughing or sneezing, get on the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract of a healthy person.

In addition to the aerogenic mechanism of spread of the measles virus, in rare cases, a contact mechanism of transmission through household items or children's toys is observed.

The entrance gate of infection is the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract and eyes.

Measles outbreaks are mainly recorded in the winter-spring season with a cyclical pattern of once every 2-4 years.

Since the measles virus is not prone to mutation, those who have been ill develop strong immunity.

There is also an effective measles vaccine, which is part of a comprehensive vaccination - MMR (measles, rubella, mumps). Vaccination provides active immunization of children, which has significantly reduced the incidence of measles.

The mechanism of the development of the disease

The causative agent enters the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract and with the flow of lymph is sent to the lymph nodes of the neck, where it begins to actively multiply. After that, the virus enters the bloodstream and spreads through tissues and organs, forming small inflammatory seals with multinucleated giant cells.

With the appearance of a rash, the number of viral bodies in the blood of a sick person begins to decrease.

On the fifth day from the appearance of rashes, the patient becomes harmless to others, since the virus is no longer in the body.

It is also known that the causative agent of measles has a slight immunosuppressive activity, as a result of which bacterial complications are often observed.

forms of measles

The course of measles can be typical and atypical.

In a typical course of the disease, a sequence of periods is noted.

Atypical measles is common in vaccinated children and adults. In turn, this form is subdivided downstream into several types, namely:

abortive course. The onset of the disease is manifested by typical symptoms, but after 24-48 hours the patient's condition improves dramatically. Eruptions on the body are insignificant, pale and pass quickly;
a mitigated course is observed in contact children who were injected with anti-measles gamma globulin. This type of measles is characterized by a mild course, with a small single rash that quickly passes;
the erased course differs from other types of measles by the presence of only individual symptoms of the disease;
asymptomatic course of symptoms resembles a cold.

Despite the mild course of atypical forms of measles, patients also often develop complications, as in the typical course of the disease.

Measles: symptoms in children

In the clinical course of typical measles, four stages are distinguished. Consider them:

The initial stage of measles, or the incubation period, is characterized by the absence of manifestations. At this stage of the infectious process, the virus actively multiplies in the lymph nodes of the neck. The duration of the initial stage is 1-2 weeks.
The catarrhal stage takes 3 to 5 days. The first symptoms of measles appear acutely at the end of the incubation stage. Children develop catarrhal symptoms from the upper respiratory tract and eyes, as well as signs of intoxication of the body.

A pathognomic symptom of measles is enanthema (Filatov-Koplik-Belsky spots), which appears on the inner surface of the cheeks opposite the premolars and looks like semolina.

The characteristic symptoms of the catarrhal stage are:

general weakness;
headache;
capriciousness and irritability;
loss of appetite;
sleep disturbance;
an increase in body temperature of 38 ° C;
swelling of the nasal mucosa and runny nose;
dry cough;
noisy breathing;
hoarseness of voice;
hyperemia of the mucous membrane of the eyes;
swelling of the eyelids;
the appearance of discharge from the palpebral fissure of a mucopurulent nature;
pain in the eyes in bright light;
swelling of the face;
hyperemia of the mucous throat;
lymphadenopathy (enlargement of the lymph nodes of the neck);
loosening of the stool and others.

The rash stage lasts about five days and is characterized by an increase in symptoms of intoxication and catarrhal phenomena from the upper respiratory tract.

The recovery stage begins with the subsidence of the exanthema and the appearance of pigmentation. The rash first turns pale, in its place light brown pigment spots form, which disappear within 7-8 days.

Rashes with measles in children: photo

Measles is characterized by the appearance on the skin of the face, upper limbs, trunk and lower limbs of bright maculopapular rash elements that merge with each other.

Measles exanthema can be identified according to the following features:

pours out in stages - from top to bottom. First, pimples appear on the head, neck and upper chest, then on the back, abdomen, shoulders and forearms, and only then on the lower limbs and arms;
rashes also subside in stages;
temporary pigmentation remains in place of measles exanthema.

Measles in infants: features

Measles is rare in infants under one year of age because infants have antibodies against measles that they received in their mother's milk. But this is only possible if the woman has been vaccinated against measles or has been ill with it.

If the baby is fed with artificial milk mixtures or the mother did not have measles, then, accordingly, the child does not receive protection against this infection and may turn white even at such an early age.

In newborns and infants, measles is severe and often accompanied by complications that can lead to death of the patient.

How does measles start in vaccinated children?

Measles in vaccinated children begins 9-10 days after infection with the measles virus and is mild. Catarrhal and intoxication symptoms of the disease are not expressed, rashes of a single nature, which quickly turn pale and disappear.

Children who are vaccinated are more likely to develop atypical measles, which we talked about earlier.

Measles in adults: symptoms and features of the course

In adults, the symptoms of measles are more severe.

Patients may show the following signs of the disease:

Strong headache;
severe general weakness;
high body temperature;
nausea, up to vomiting;
insomnia;
the appearance of Belsky-Filatov-Koplik spots;
profuse rashes on the skin;
lymphadenopathy;
enlargement of the spleen, and sometimes the liver.

Despite the severe course of measles, complications of the disease are rare in adults.

Complications of measles

As we said earlier, the measles virus slightly depresses the patient's immunity, as a result of which the risk of attaching a secondary bacterial flora increases.

Measles is characterized by the addition complications such as:

bacterial pneumonia;
bacterial laryngitis and laryngotracheobronchitis;
false croup;
stomatitis;
inflammation of the meninges;
inflammation of the brain tissue;
purulent inflammation of the middle ear and others.

measles treatment

There is no etiotropic treatment for measles, so the treatment of the disease is aimed at alleviating its symptoms.

Mild measles is treated mainly at home under the supervision of a local pediatrician.

Indications for hospitalization in an infectious diseases hospital are states such as:

moderate and severe measles;
the presence of complications of measles;
accommodation of a child in a family where there are persons with measles, infants and pregnant women.

The treatment of measles is guided by the following principles:

bed or semi-bed rest;
airing and wet cleaning of the room or ward where the patient with measles is located is carried out several times a day;
the windows of the ward or the patient's room should be covered with dark curtains;
a diet that should consist of easily digestible and hypoallergenic foods containing a sufficient amount of vitamins and trace elements;
oral hydration to reduce the manifestations of intoxication. For this, both ordinary water, compotes, juices, fruit drinks, and electrolyte solutions of the Regidron type are suitable;
the patient's eyes are washed with a warm, weak solution of Furacilin;
the patient's lips are lubricated with vaseline oil to avoid drying out;
rinse the mouth with warm boiled water, weak solutions of potassium permanganate, Furacilin or soda, as well as decoctions of chamomile, string or oak bark;
the appointment of antiallergic drugs, such as Loratadin, Tavegil, Claritin, L-cet and others, which will reduce catarrhal symptoms and the severity of rashes;
the appointment of antipyretic drugs (Nurofen, Efferalgan) at a body temperature above 38.5 ° C;
the appointment of antiviral drugs in the first three days of the disease, which will increase the body's defenses and prevent the development of complications (human interferon, Viferon, Laferon and others);
the appointment of antibiotics with a wide spectrum of action in order to prevent purulent complications;
the appointment of infusion therapy in severe cases with severe intoxication syndrome (physiological sodium chloride solution, Disol, Rheosorbilact and others);
the appointment of hormonal drugs for measles complicated by meningitis or meningoencephalitis (Prednisolone, Dexamethasone) in combination with antibiotics.

Measles Prevention Methods

In order to prevent measles, two scheduled vaccinations of children are carried out with the introduction of the MMR vaccine (measles, rubella, mumps).

Vaccination is given to healthy children at 12 months and 6 years of age, as well as adults who have not been ill and have not been vaccinated before or have no history of vaccinations, every 12 years until the age of 35.

All contacts who have not previously had measles are injected with anti-measles gamma globulin.

If you or your child has symptoms of measles, we strongly recommend that you seek medical help in order to start timely treatment and avoid serious complications. In addition, the importance of measles vaccination should be understood and should not be abandoned, since the disease in vaccinated individuals is much milder than in unvaccinated individuals.

Measles in children is an extremely dangerous and common infection caused by a virus. It is transmitted by airborne droplets, is characterized by typical clinical manifestations and is severe.

After measles, children often experience complications leading to the formation of chronic pathology up to disability.

The cause of measles is the transmission of an RNA-containing paramyxovirus only from a sick person, that is, the pathology is anthroponotic. The measles virus quickly dies at room temperature, does not tolerate exposure to ultraviolet rays and antiseptics, and persists for a long time at low temperatures.

Microbes are transmitted through the air over long distances and are introduced into the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract and eyeballs. Neurons and intestinal epithelium are also vulnerable. Rarely, infection is possible by contact and household contact - through toys and other objects.

Features of the pathology:

Contact with an infected person is dangerous two days before the onset of signs of illness and within 5 days after the rash. A person with a weakened immune system sheds viruses for a longer time.
The peak incidence occurs during the cold periods of the year, outbreaks are recorded every 3–5 years.
The measles virus is highly aggressive, destroys red blood cells, damages the walls of blood vessels. Microbes settle and multiply in the lymph nodes, weakening the immune system.
Children under the age of 10 get sick, sometimes adults. Babies under one year old are rarely susceptible to this infection. Newborns can get the measles virus in utero from a sick mother.
After an illness, a person does not become infected again, since a strong immunity is developed. Attenuated form of infection, or mitigated measles, is an exception. After it, it is possible to get sick again.

Measles in infants is often accompanied by the development of neurotoxicosis and other dangerous complications, often leading to death.

The development of measles in children under one year is explained by the following reasons:

the mother did not have measles and was not vaccinated against this infection;
the child is on artificial feeding;
the infant has a pronounced immunodeficiency of various etiologies.

Symptoms and stages

The symptoms of measles are:

severe intoxication;
catarrh of the upper respiratory tract and mucous membranes of the eyes;
skin rashes of maculopapular character.

The disease proceeds in several stages: incubation, prodrome, rash, pigmentation.

Incubation period

The incubation period for measles after contact with a source of infection lasts from a week to 17 days. At this time, the measles virus that has entered the body enters the blood from the epithelium of the upper respiratory tract, multiplies in the lymph nodes, but this does not manifest itself clinically. Only when it enters the blood again from the affected lymphoid tissue, catarrhal phenomena begin.

With the mitigated form and in a vaccinated child, the incubation period can be extended up to three weeks. With reduced immune protection, the clinic develops during the first week after infection.

The baby is dangerous to others already two days before the appearance of the disease clinic. From the fifth day after the appearance of the rash, the child is considered non-contagious, visiting children's institutions is not contraindicated for him.

Prodrome

The first signs of measles are toxicosis and severe catarrhal phenomena. This period is difficult for children.

Within 4-7 days the following phenomena develop:

Fever up to 40 degrees. At the height of the rise in temperature, a convulsive syndrome often develops, delirium appears. Headaches are often accompanied by vomiting.
Catarrhal syndrome in the form of bilateral conjunctivitis, blepharitis and rhinitis with profuse mucous or purulent discharge.
In parallel, a respiratory syndrome develops. A painful dry cough appears, gradually acquiring a wet character with sputum discharge of a mucopurulent nature. Due to swelling of the larynx, shortness of breath, hoarseness of voice, wheezing occurs.

In addition, this stage is characterized by an increase and soreness of the lymph nodes of the neck, weakness, lack of appetite, intestinal dysfunction with vomiting and loose stools, and tearfulness.

Specific symptoms of measles include:

Belsky-Filatov spots - the appearance on the mucous membranes of the cheeks, lips, gums of small white dots surrounded by a red border;
patchy reddening of the palate (enanthema).

These signs are due to damage to the mucous membranes and allergization of the body under the influence of the virus. By detecting them, the pediatrician can make the correct diagnosis even before the rash appears.

Rash stage

After a catarrhal period, an exanthema or rash appears on the skin, which is the most important symptom of measles.

The measles rash persists for 3-5 days and is characterized by the following features:

elements in the form of spots or protruding nodules of pink-red color, resembling hives;
a tendency to merge rashes with the formation of extensive spots of irregular shape;
even distribution throughout the body;
skin background is not changed.

The first elements of the rash appear on the face, including behind the ear, not earlier than 3-5 days after the onset of the disease. Gradually, they spread down, successively covering the skin of the trunk and legs.

Intoxication continues for several more days, but its severity decreases.

Stage of pigmentation

The period of rashes with measles ends with the appearance of light brown pigment spots, which also gradually “slide” from top to bottom. They have the following features:

last up to ten days;
when pressed with a finger, they do not change their color and do not disappear;
as they turn pale, a small peeling appears.

The period of pigmentation usually marks the beginning of recovery. The child fully recovers within three weeks. This course of measles is typical.

How does atypical measles manifest itself in children? The mitigated form is typical for contact persons who received anti-measles immunoglobulin, and for children receiving glucocorticosteroids due to concomitant diseases. The infection passes without intoxication, with a mild and unstable rash.

Symptoms of measles in a vaccinated child appear only on the tenth day after infection. With an erased course, they are not pronounced, so sometimes measles is confused with a common viral respiratory infection. The disease does not give complications.

Which doctor treats measles in children

When catarrhal phenomena appear in a child, parents should always contact a pediatrician, especially if there is contact with a patient with measles infection. During hospitalization, an infectious disease doctor is engaged in the treatment of a small patient.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of measles is based on the collection of anamnesis with the clarification of possible contacts with the patient and a thorough medical examination. Given the characteristic signs of the disease, this is enough to identify the pathology.

Before the appearance of the clinic and with an atypical course, the data of laboratory blood tests for measles help in the diagnosis.

The measles virus can be detected using serological methods:

a 4-fold increase in antiviral antibody titers two weeks after the onset of the disease;
increased content of specific immunoglobulins during enzyme immunoassay - changes in the immunogram can reveal measles that occurs in an asymptomatic form.

Conducting virological studies will help determine the pathogen using blood cultures, swabs from the nasopharynx on tissue cultures, or using special microscopy.

In the general blood test, a decrease in leukocytes is detected, ESR is moderately increased. You also need a general urine test (the appearance of leukocytes and protein), radiography of the lungs, electroencephalography.

Treatment

Treatment for measles should begin as early as possible. In children, symptoms and treatments are interrelated - the choice of drugs is determined by the clinical picture. There are no drugs that directly destroy the virus. Therapy is aimed at relieving symptoms in order to improve the patient's condition and strengthen his immune system.

How to treat uncomplicated measles? Drugs from the following groups are used:

antipyretic - Paracetamol, Nurofen;
antitussives for dry cough - Libexin;
hyposensitizing drugs - Tavegil, Claritin;
antiviral - Interferon, Viferon;
vitamin therapy - vitamin A, B vitamins and ascorbic acid;
immunomodulators - immunoglobulin.

With purulent-inflammatory complications, broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed. With lesions of the nervous system, diuretics (Mannitol), vasoactive agents - Cavinton, Demiphosphone are recommended.

Glucocorticosteroids (Dexamethasone), spasmo-and bronchodilators - No-shpa, Salbutamol, Eufillin - will help to cope with respiratory disorders.

To get rid of intoxication with a mild form of the disease will help to drink plenty of water (water, compotes, freshly squeezed juices, saline solutions). In severe form, infusion therapy is carried out.

Measles treatment includes the following care rules:

bed rest until the temperature normalizes;
treatment of the eyes, oral cavity with decoctions of anti-inflammatory herbs with antiseptics, lips - with vegetable oil several times a day;
washing the nasal passages and the use of vasoconstrictor drops;
airing the room and wet cleaning at least twice a day;
a sparing diet consisting of vegetables, fruits, milk, cereals and lean meat, enriched with vitamins and microelements.

In a state of moderate severity and complicated course, young children are treated in the infectious diseases department.

Complications

Why is measles so dangerous? The virus causes damage to various systems. Measles often causes the following complications:

inflammation of the brain or spinal cord;
pneumonia, bronchitis;
thrombocytopenic purpura;
keratitis;
purulent otitis;
ulcerative colitis;
multiple sclerosis.

Complications of measles are often due to late visits to the doctor, which sometimes leads to death.

Measles is a highly contagious (extremely contagious) acute viral disease. Measles mostly affects unvaccinated children attending children's institutions. Adolescents and adults who have not previously been ill or vaccinated against measles also remain extremely susceptible to this infection.

How is measles transmitted?

The source of infection is a person with measles from the moment the first signs of the disease appear until the fifth day from the onset of the rash. In the case of infection, after contact with the patient, it takes from 7 to 17 days before the disease manifests itself (incubation period).

Measles is an airborne infection. The virus enters the body through the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract and eyes from a person with measles who spreads it
when breathing, talking, sneezing and coughing.

The measles virus is very volatile - with a stream of air it can enter neighboring rooms and even other floors of the building through windows, ventilation, key slots - so you can get infected just by being in the same house with the sick person. In this case, the virus quickly dies in the external environment, so the spread of infection through objects (bed linen, clothes, toys), as well as through third parties who have been in contact with the patient, is almost impossible. The room where the measles patient was located should be sufficiently ventilated so that one can stay in it without the risk of infection, disinfection is not needed.

How does measles progress?

The disease begins acutely: the child complains of a severe headache, weakness, it can rise to 40º, there is no appetite. Soon there is a runny nose, a cough - usually dry, painful, or barking - with laryngitis. The child's throat is red, swollen, cervical lymph nodes are enlarged. Typical inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes - conjunctivitis. Its manifestations in measles are pronounced: the eyes turn red, lacrimation appears, photophobia, and subsequently a purulent discharge appears. On the second or third day of illness, pink dotted rashes (enanthema) appear on the palate, and tiny whitish spots characteristic of measles (Belsky-Filatov-Koplik spots) appear on the mucous membrane of the cheeks, gums and lips. Both can be seen before the rash appears on the body.

On the 4-5th day of illness, a rash appears - first on the scalp, behind the ears, on the face. The next day, it spreads to the trunk, another day - to the arms and legs. A measles rash is an abundance of small reddish spots and vesicles that tend to merge and form larger spots. During the period of the rash, the child's condition deteriorates sharply - the temperature jumps again, catarrhal phenomena (runny nose, cough) intensify, conjunctivitis worsens. The child is lethargic, refuses to eat, sleeps restlessly.

If there are no complications, then from the fourth day from the onset of the rash, the condition improves. The rash either disappears completely, or is replaced by pigmentation and areas of skin peeling. The disappearance of the rash occurs in the reverse order of its appearance. The child's temperature normalizes, catarrhal phenomena pass - he gradually recovers.

Possible Complications

Today, with timely and competent treatment, complications from measles are rare. Most children (unlike adults) tolerate this disease without consequences. Complications often occur in children under one year old, underweight and.

The course of the disease can be complicated by damage to the respiratory system: laryngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, pneumonia; eye - conjunctivitis, blepharitis; digestive system - dyspepsia; inflammation of the middle ear - otitis media or auditory tube - eustachitis. Young children often have stomatitis.

The most severe complications of measles, which, fortunately, are extremely rare, affect the brain - meningitis and encephalitis.

Treatment and care

Uncomplicated measles is treated at home, always under the supervision of a doctor. With a severe course of the disease, the development of complications, hospitalization is possible.

The doctor prescribes a treatment for the child that helps to cope with the symptoms of the disease and support the immune system: vitamins A and C, antipyretics based on paracetamol or ibuprofen; tablets or medicines to relieve coughs; antihistamines; vasoconstrictor drops in the nose; eye drops and ointments, etc. Antibiotics are prescribed only with the addition of a secondary infection and the development of complications (otitis media, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc.).

In the room where the sick child is located, it is necessary to do wet cleaning daily. Airing should be as often as possible. Curtains are best kept drawn, as measles causes photophobia. Bed linen and pajamas of a sick child should be fresh. The child should be often and a lot to drink plain water, compotes, fruit drinks. should be light, sparing: fermented milk products (kefir, yogurt, curdled milk); vegetable soups; vegetable and fruit purees; boiled pureed meat (lean veal, chicken, turkey).

After suffering measles, the child is very weakened: for some time he may not feel very well, eat poorly, be capricious, get tired quickly. His immune system remains extremely susceptible to any infection for at least another two months. We must try to protect him from unnecessary contacts, stress, stress, hypothermia, etc. Much attention should be paid to his nutrition, consult a doctor about taking vitamins.

Measles prevention

A person who has been ill with measles remains immune to this infection for life - cases of repeated diseases are rare.

Children under 6 months old, especially those who are on, get measles extremely rarely.

The main way to prevent this infection is active immunization. In Russia, vaccination against measles is carried out for children at the age of 12 months, revaccination - at the age of six. Measles immunization is also given to previously unvaccinated and measles-free adolescents aged 15-17 and adults under the age of 35.

Passive immunization is possible for those who have been in contact with a patient with measles, and have not previously been ill and not vaccinated against this infection. Immunoglobulin administration during the first days after exposure may protect against the disease or make it milder (mitigated measles).

In preschool institutions, quarantine is established for children who have not previously had measles and who have not been vaccinated for 17 days from the start of contact.

Mitigated measles

Babies who have received antibodies against measles from their mothers, children and adults vaccinated against measles, or who have received passive immunoglobulin immunization can still become infected and get sick. However, in these cases, measles proceeds atypically and is much easier - without high fever, profuse rash and without complications. Such measles is called “mitigated”.

Measles during pregnancy

If the expectant mother gets sick with measles, premature birth is also possible. A child can be born underweight and even (according to unconfirmed reports) with malformations.

Vaccination or revaccination against measles should be carried out for women who do not have measles antibodies at least one month before conception, during pregnancy it cannot be done.

If a pregnant woman who does not have immunity against measles has been in contact with a patient, passive immunization with immunoglobulin may be carried out during the first days after contact.

It begins with a catarrhal period: malaise, tearfulness, decreased appetite, fever up to 38-39 ° C, headache, runny nose, dry cough. On the 2nd-3rd day, the temperature usually drops to subfebrile numbers, but catarrhal phenomena increase, serous rhinitis, sneezing, dry hacking cough, a feeling of rawness in the nasopharynx, sometimes hoarseness appears. In this case, the cough becomes rough, hoarse. The appearance of the patient is characteristic: the face is puffy, the eyelids are slightly hyperemic, swollen, conjunctivitis develops (conjunctival hyperemia, lacrimation, photophobia), serous discharge from the nose.

A typical early symptom of measles is the appearance 1-2 days before the rash (on the skin, on the oral mucosa and soft palate) measles enanthema - red and irregularly shaped spots ranging in size from a pinhead to lentils. After 1-2 days, the enanthema spots merge and disappear against the general background of the hyperemic mucosa.

Almost simultaneously with the enanthema, and sometimes even before it, a typical initial symptom of measles appears - Velsky-Filatov-Koplik spots. They are found on the mucous membrane of the cheeks opposite the small molars, less often on the mucous membrane of the lips, gums, sometimes on the conjunctiva. Each of the elements of the rash looks like a small, like a grain of semolina, a whitish tubercle on a small speck of redness. They are located in groups, sometimes in abundance, and are firmly held (not removed with a spatula). This symptom allows a reliable diagnosis of measles before the typical rash appears. It persists for 2-3 days, but sometimes it can be detected even on the 1-2nd day of skin manifestations.
In the catarrhal period of measles, there may be another symptom - whitish deposits on the gums, as a result of necrosis and desquamation of the epithelium.

The catarrhal period lasts 3-4 days (occasionally it can be shortened or lengthened up to 5-7 days) and is replaced by a period of rashes.

The period of rashes begins with a new increase in temperature, which reaches a maximum on the 2nd-3rd day of the rash and normalizes by the 5th-7th day. At this time, manifestations of general malaise (lethargy, lethargy) increase, headache intensifies, appetite worsens, sleep is disturbed, sometimes anxiety and delirium appear at night, catarrhal phenomena increase.

A measles rash (exanthema) appears against a background of fever. The elements of the rash initially look like small (the size of buckwheat grains) papules (tubercles) of pink color. After a few hours, each papule is surrounded by a zone of bright redness. The elements of the rash located close to each other (maculopapular elements) merge in the future. At the same time, unchanged areas of skin remain between them, which stand out in a pale color against a red background. With a profuse rash, the formation of continuous fields of redness is possible, but usually a patchy appearance of the rash remains on the chest and abdomen. Rarely, the rash can be sparse and look like separate elements that do not merge with each other. Other options are also possible.

The elements of the rash retain their brightness (“bloom”) for 3 days and from the 4th day of the disease begin to gradually fade away (first on the face, then on the trunk, then on the extremities). They become flatter, acquire a bluish tint and, turning pale, turn into pigmented light brown spots.

Measles is characterized by staging of the rash. The first elements of the rash are found behind the ears and in the center of the face, and then within a day the rash quickly spreads to the entire face, neck and partly to the upper chest. The rash, unlike scarlet fever, also covers the nasolabial triangle. On the second day, the exanthema spreads to the trunk and upper (proximal) limbs, and on the third day - to all limbs. Sometimes deviations are observed - acceleration or deceleration of the rash. Thus, the appearance of a red, spotted, in some places confluent rash, first on the face, its subsequent “sliding” on the trunk and legs against the background of high temperature, pronounced catarrhal phenomena (cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis) - this is the clinical picture of a typical measles infection.

Skin pigmentation lasts 1-2 weeks. Occasionally, the rash ends with small bran-like peeling.

pregnant

The course of the disease in pregnant women is more severe than usual, with the frequent development of measles pneumonia. It is believed that the measles virus is not the cause of malformations in the fetus, although it can induce abortion, premature birth and cause dystrophy in the newborn child.

Treatment

In pregnant women in the case of a severe course, ribavirin aerosol therapy is discussed.

Immunization of exposed pregnant women and newborns with standard immunoglobulin can be carried out prophylactically within 72 hours from the moment of exposure. Breastfeeding is possible.

Newborns: Measles may be mild or severe. The main danger is measles pneumonia with bacterial superinfection. Lethality is low. Treatment is symptomatic.