What is Measles?
Measles is a very contagious disease that is caused by an RNA virus, known as a paramyxovirus. The virus can stay alive for up to two hours in the air.
Incubation of the disease is from 1 to 2 weeks but symptoms can last for up to 10 days.
It is most contagious during the early symptoms (prodromal stage) of the disease and the person remains contagious for quite some time. About 90% of people exposed will become ill with the measles.
People are infected when they come into contact with droplets produced by sick people who are coughing or sneezing.
Symptoms include:
- Fever, which can be greater than 40 degree C in severe cases
- Cough
- Coryza, or a runny nose
- Conjunctivitis, which is an infection of the outer membrane of the eye; typically eyes are red and watering.
- Photophobia, that is, the eyes are physically sensitive to the light.
- Enanthem present (i.e. a rash that is located on the membranes that produce mucus).
- Koplik spots (small rash) on the epithelial membrane that lines the inside of the mouth.
- Maculopapular rash occurs (a flat red area that has small bumps). This rash spreads from the head downwards to the extremities.
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Bruising ranging from mild to more severe can occur with worse rashes.
The Koplik spots in the mouth appear before the rash. The rash develops on about the fifth day of illness. The rash starts on the front of the face within about a day, and then spreads to the torso, abdomen and limbs.
After about another 5 days the rash fades and the patient begins to recover.
Measles can cause severe illness leading to brain swelling in some people and even blindness. Measles can even cause death due to such complications as pneumonia, and less often, encephalitis.
Measles can be prevented if people are immunized. The measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine provides protection from the virus. Widespread vaccination has decreased the prevalence of measles in the population.
Bruising ranging from mild to more severe can occur with worse rashes.
The Koplik spots in the mouth appear before the rash. The rash develops on about the fifth day of illness. The rash starts on the front of the face within about a day, and then spreads to the torso, abdomen and limbs.
After about another 5 days the rash fades and the patient begins to recover.
Measles can cause severe illness leading to brain swelling in some people and even blindness. Measles can even cause death due to such complications as pneumonia, and less often, encephalitis.
Measles can be prevented if people are immunized. The measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine provides protection from the virus. Widespread vaccination has decreased the prevalence of measles in the population.
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