Vaccsbook

Disease

Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease usually acquired in childhood, particularly in countries with poor vaccination programs.

Type of Microbe

An RNA virus of the Paramyxoviridae family, which also includes the Mumps virus.

Also known as

Red Measles.

Vaccination

A vaccine was developed in the 1960s, is available worldwide, and usually given at age 12 to 15 months and 4 to 5 years of age. It is usually combined with Mumps and Rubella vaccines (and given as one injection).
In 1998, a British physician published a study on a very small number of patients claiming the measles vaccine could cause autism. His study was subsequently shown to be based on fruadulent data and his licence to practice medicine was revoked. Subsequent large scale studies throughout the world proved no such causality. Some studies have found a lower incidenece of autism in children who have received the vaccine.
Coincidentaly, the diagnosis of autism is usually confirmed around the same age the vaccine is given.

Acquisition & Transmission

Measles is acquired through person to person spread of airborne virus particles originating from coughs and sneezes. Infection usually results in lifelong immunity. Measles has never been known to be spread by ticks, mosquitos, bats etc.

Signs and Symptoms

Inital symptoms are elevated temperature up to 40C, cough, nasal discharge and red eyes. 2 to 3 days later, a florrid red rash appears on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body. White spots often form inside the mouth (cheeks) at the same time.

Timeline

Incubation (from exposure to initial symptoms) is usually 10 to 12 days; symptoms then last a further 7 to 10 days.

Contagion

Patients can spread the disease to others from 4 days before the onset of rash until 4 days after the onset of rash. The measles virus can remain active (and capable of infecting) for two hours in open air.

Diagnosis

Measles is diagnosed on the basis of characteristic symptoms, and known exposure to someone who also developed measles. If in doubt, the diagnosis can be confirmed by a blood test for antbodies.

Body Systems Affected

The initial disease affects the skin, eyes and upper repiratory tract. Complicated disease can involve the lungs and brain.

Treatment

There is no specific anti-Measles medication. Antibiotics are of no use. Acetominophen (or similar) can be given to diminish symptoms. ASA (aspirin) should not be given as it may cause significant, sometimes fatal, complications.

Prevention

Measles is highly contagious and can be acquired from another before that person develops symptoms. Vaccination is the only prevention.

Complications

The initial disease can be complicated by diarrhea, pneumonia, otitis media, and meningitis (inflammation of the brain). The initial disease can also suppress the immune system for many weeks, leaving a patient more susceptible to other bacterial and viral infections.
Complications are usually more frequent and severe in children under 5 years of age, and in adults. Many years after recovery, a very small percentage of patients develop Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE) a degenerative and fatal disease of the central nervous system. The incidence of SSPE is much lower in countries with vaccination programs than countries without.

Fatalities

In industrialized countries, about 1 in 500 children die from pneumonia or meningitis. In developing countries, this death rate is much higher particularly during epidemics.

Epidemics & Pandemics

Measles outbreaks in North America have been documented since the 1600s. In 1800s, European sailors visiting Hawaii and Fiji caused epidemics resulting in deaths of 1/3 the population in both cases. More recently, epidemics have occured in the Democratic Republic of Congo (2010-2014) and (2019-) resulting in 10,000 deaths. No pandemics have been identified.

Geography

As of 2020, measles is mainly found in Africa and South East Asia. Measles has been declared eliminated in many industrialized countries. However, individual cases and occasionally outbreaks, still occur due to inadequate vaccination programs or reluctance to vaccinate.