MEASLES

What is measles?
Measles is a very contagious (easily spread) infection that causes a rash all over your body. It is also called rubeola or red measles.

The measles vaccine protects against the illness. This vaccine is part of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) and MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella [chickenpox]) vaccines. Most children get the vaccine as part of their regular shots. This is why measles is rare in Canada and the United States.

What causes measles?
Measles is caused by a virus. It is spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or shares food or drinks. The measles virus can travel through the air. This means that you can get measles if you are near someone who has the virus even if that person doesn't cough or sneeze directly on you.

You can spread the virus to others from 4 days before the rash starts until 4 days after the rash appeared. The virus is most often spread when people first get sick, before they know they have it.

What are the symptoms?

• The first symptoms of measles are like a :
• bad cold—a high fever, 
• a runny nose, 
• a hacking cough. 
• The lymph nodes in your neck may swell. 
• You also may feel very tired and have red, sore eyes. 
• You may develop white spots inside your mouth.

These symptoms are followed by a red blotchy rash , beginning behind your ears and spreading downwards, all over your body.

Children under 5 years of age and adults are more likely to get very sick with measles.

It takes about 7 to 18 days, but rarely as long as 21 days, to get symptoms after you have been around someone who has measles. This is called the incubation period. The measles rash usually appears about 14 days after you have been around someone with measles. But it could take as long as 21 days before you see the rash.

How is it treated?

Measles usually gets better with home care. You can take medicine to lower your fever, if needed. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Also, get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. Stay away from other people as much as you can so that you don't spread the disease. Anyone who has measles must stay out of school, daycare, work, and public places until at least 4 days after the rash first appeared.

Getting your child vaccinated is important, because measles can sometimes cause serious problems.

 References

• http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/measles/basics/definition/con-20019675