Introduction:
Measles is a deadly disease. Everyone is aware of this well-known viral infection. The causative microorganism of measles is the Rubeola virus. This virus belongs to the Morbillivirus genus, which is part of the Paramyxovirus family. Measles virus and other paramyxoviruses, including mumps virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human parainfluenza viruses, zoonotic Hendra, and Nipah viruses, are considered major pathogens and can bring serious infections in both humans and animals. Measles is an air-born (spread through air) disease. It is transmitted by respiratory secretions from infected individuals, either through larger respiratory droplets spread from person to person or through aerosols spread into the air.
What Are the Treatment Options for Measles?
Treatment of measles aims entirely at providing relief from the symptoms. There is no specific medicine for the treatment of this serious disease. Measles treatment consists primarily of supportive care, such as maintaining enough hydration and replacing fluids lost due to diarrhea or vomiting. In cases of extreme dehydration, intravenous (IV) rehydration may be required.
Vitamin A supplementation should be considered, especially in youngsters and people with clinical symptoms of vitamin A insufficiency. In unvaccinated individuals, postexposure prophylaxis should be performed.The treatment options for measles are discussed below.
1. Supportive Care: In most cases, patients with measles only need supportive treatment. Hospitalization may be necessary for the treatment of measles complications, e.g., bacterial superinfection, pneumonia, dehydration, and croup (a disease that causes inflammation of airways and causes breathing difficulties).
Antibiotics should be used to treat secondary infections, such as otitis media (ear infection) or bacterial pneumonia. Patients with severe complicating infections, such as encephalomyelitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord), should be hospitalized for observation and antibiotic treatment as necessary for their clinical condition.
On rare occasions, patients who are noticeably feverish and who have become dehydrated need intravenous rehydration. Fever should be treated with normal fever reducers. Healthcare professionals who are susceptible should take five to 21 days off from work after exposure. During the period of spread of diseases, that is, airborne precautions are advised for hospitalized children. The contagious period includes the time period in healthy children, three to five days prior to the onset of a rash to four days after the rash appears, and during the duration of the illness in immunocompromised patients.
2. Antiviral Therapy: Unfortunately, no antiviral drug has been approved by FDA (food and drug administration) for treating measles. No medicines can destroy the virus.
3. Supplements of Vitamin A: Supplemental vitamin A has been linked to a 50 percent decrease in morbidity and mortality and may help avoid complications like vision impairment and eye damage. WHO (world health organization) advises that all children with measles should receive vitamin A supplementation based on their age, regardless of where they reside, because vitamin A insufficiency is linked to severe measles. The recommended doses by WHO are as follows:
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For Babies Under Six Months of Age: The recommended dose is 50,000 IU (international unit) twice a day orally.
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For Children Aged Six to Eleven Months: 100,000 IU twice a day by mouth.
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For Children Over the Age of One Year: 200,000 IU per day orally, divided into two doses.
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Children Who Exhibit Clinical Symptoms of Vitamin Insufficiency: Children are first given the appropriate two dosages and then treated with the third dosage according to their age two to four weeks later.
4. Vaccines: In the United States, the measles virus vaccination is typically administered in conjunction with attenuated rubella and mumps viruses as part of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. The available vaccine in the United States includes the following:
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Vaccination against the live measles, mumps, and rubella virus (MMR II).
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Vaccination against the live measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella virus. (ProQuad)
As mentioned above, the preferred vaccination schedule for the vaccines is discussed below.
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First Dose: 0.5 milliliter SC (subcutaneous), starting at 12 months (ideally 15 months).
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Second Dosage: 0.5 milliliters at age four to six years; may be given earlier if at least 28 days have passed since the previous dose.
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Catch-up Doses: if not previously immunized before the age of six, administer two doses of 0.5 milliliter SC, separated by at least four weeks.
However, safety and efficacy have not been proven in six-month-old infants.
5. Prevention After Exposure: Administering the MMR vaccine within 72 hours of exposure to measles-naive individuals can prevent or attenuate the disease. To prevent or modify measles in susceptible household contacts, immune globulin with a dose of 0.25 ml/kg, or 0.5 ml/kg for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) patients, not to exceed 15 ml can be given IM (intramuscular) within six days of exposure.
How Can Measles Be Prevented?
Prevention is better than cure. In the case of measles, this saying is absolutely true. As there is no specific treatment for measles, it is better for individuals to prevent themselves from this serious infection. Recently in some countries, a measles outbreak was seen. On the other hand, some countries reported an increase in the number of annual cases of measles. The recommended guidelines for prevention are discussed below.
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An adequate measles vaccination effectively removes measles susceptibility and gives long-lasting protection. Other preventative strategies include vitamin A and human immunoglobulin (Ig).
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In the United States, it is recommended that the vaccination of children who travel or live abroad should start earlier than that of children in the United States.
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In addition to standard precautions, airborne precautions are recommended for hospitalized children during the period of communicability three to five days before the rash appears to four days after the rash develops in healthy children and for the duration of illness in immunocompromised people.
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If there is a case of measles, all children and staff who have been exposed and do not have confirmation of immunity should be asked to refrain from coming to school from the fifth to the 21st day after exposure; similarly, susceptible healthcare employees should be asked to refrain from the workplace for the same period.
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The best strategy to stop outbreaks or reduce them if they do happen is to maintain two-dose coverage with the MMR vaccine.
Conclusion:
Measles is a highly contagious disease. Although it affects individuals of any age, children are more susceptible to this illness. It can lead to several complications like pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and even death. The best way to prevent measles is by getting timely vaccination, exercising, and eating a healthy and balanced diet.