Measles and its dangers

The great return of measles
Measles is most contagious infectious diseases. Vaccination is not compulsory but recommended. Measles is a disease often considered benign but can cause some serious complications.
Measles and its symptomsMeaslesMeaslesMeasles rash disease, caused by a virus discovered in 1954 by Enders and Peebles. It mainly affects children. After an incubation of latent about ten days, the onset of measles is characterized by oculo-nasal catarrh (runny nose, watery eyes and coughing) giving the child something "crybaby" particular. The diagnosis of measles is difficult at this stage and is in fact covered only appear when, 48 hours later. The fever rises to 39 ° C, the eruption of rose spots oval starts at first behind the ears, then spreads to face and win the rest of the body in two days, measles has been well established. The child does not scratch. The rash and fever disappeared in five days.
The child is contagious for a period of ten days between the fifth day before the eruption and fifth days. Measles begins ten or twelve days after infection. Treatment is symptomatic, medication against fever and cough. Measles is a viral disease, antibiotics are not necessary outside of secondary bacterial infections that sometimes complicate the evolution (tonsillitis, ear infections, bronchitis, laryngitis). Other complications of measles, nerve or eye, are more rare in our climate, but significant mortality especially among African children.
Measles vaccinationmeasles vaccinemeasles vaccineFor information, compulsory vaccination in childhood is the one against diphtheria, tetanus, and polio. Vaccinations recommended and strongly recommended for unvaccinated women of childbearing age and children are: measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). Maternal antibodies passed to child during pregnancy does not protect that during the first six months of life. Then the child can contract measles, mumps, rubella at any time. Vaccination of children can be performed at the age of one year. A reminder will be conducted two years after the first injection. This vaccine can be made at the age of 9 months if the input is done in community, then the recall is between 12 and 15 months.
Vaccination against measles is highly effective and safe, adverse events are summarized sometimes a mild fever accompanied by an exceptionally quiet eruption, between the fifth and twelfth days after vaccination. His main interest is to avoid the neurological complications of measles are rare but serious.
Measles and its complicationsMeaslesMeaslesMeasles can become viral encephalitis. This is an acute inflammation of the brain most often secondary to an infectious disease such as measles (or, flu, herpes, chickenpox, rubella, mumps, etc. ..). It reaches children of all ages, especially without a history. The onset is sudden, the child apparently in good health or is affected by a rash illness reported as measles. Quickly settle a high fever, headache, vomiting, impaired general condition, impaired consciousness that may rapidly to coma. The hospital emergency brings together elements with the diagnostic lumbar puncture, EEG and CT scan and start treatment, the symptoms alone, often in intensive care unit. The prognosis is often severe, however, varies from one child to another, from one virus to another. This shows the interest to vaccinate infants and children who do not have the vaccine against measles.