Measlesis viral disease and potentially serious that can even trigger death. According to the Ministry of Health, “1 to 3 in every 1,000 sick children may die from complications of the disease”. Transmitted from one person to another, measles can be prevented through vaccination. Recent outbreaks in our country bring us a warning about importance of maintaining vaccines in days.
Read too: Vaccines All Children Should Take
What is measles?
Measles is a disease caused by a virus in RNA belonging to the gender Morbillivirs, of the family Paramyxoviridae. It is a disease highly contagious and that causes skin rashes. Its transmission occurs mainly through droplets that are eliminated by the patient when talking, coughing, sneezing, breathing close to other people or by direct contact with secretions from the throat and nose of infected. It is estimated that 90% of people who do not have immunity against the disease and live with the patient become infected with measles.
What are the symptoms of measles?
Measles has a incubation period of about 10 days, that is, symptoms appear about 10 days after the patient has had contact with the virus. The main symptoms of the disease are high fever, cough, runny nose, malaise, eye irritation and red spots, which initially appear on the face and behind the ear and later spread to the whole body. According to the Ministry of Health, after the appearance of the spots, the persistence of fever it is a warning sign and may indicate seriousness, especially in children under the age of five.
Read too: 10 common questions about measles
Can measles cause complications?
Measles can trigger complications, including the individual's death. Among them, we can highlight: encephalitis (inflammation in the brain), otitis (ear infections),pneumonia, and diarrheal diseases. In pregnant women, measles can lead to premature birth of the baby and its low weight.
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How is measles diagnosed?
The diagnosis of measles is made through the symptom analysis and serological tests. Fever, for at least three days, accompanied by cough, runny nose or conjunctivitis, may be suggestive of the disease. In addition, white spots inside the mouth (Koplik's spots) are seen for diagnosis.
What is the treatment for measles?
Measles, as well as most viral diseases, does not have a specific treatment. Treatment is based only on the use of medications aimed at reducing the symptoms of the disease. It is recommended the use of vitamin A in all children with the disease in order to reduce the risk of complications and mortality.
Read too: Measles outbreak in Brazil
How can measles be prevented?
The main way to prevent measles is to vaccination. Before the vaccine was offered to the population, it is estimated that about 90% of people acquired the infection up to 20 years of age. Currently, the measles vaccine is made available free of charge by the Unified Health System (SUS) and can also be found in private clinics.
The Ministry of Health emphasizes that vaccine indication criteria are periodically evaluated., and the occurrence of outbreaks, for example, can change vaccination recommendations. Currently, the Ministry recommends the following vaccination schedule:
- Zero dose: due to the increase in measles cases in some Brazilian states, all children from six months to under one year of age must be vaccinated (extra dose).
- First dose: children who turn 12 months old.
- Second dose: at 15 months of age, last dose for life.
With regard to adults, the Ministry of Health reinforces that those who took only one dose until the age of 29 years of age and those who have not taken any dose, lost their card or do not remember, must be immunized. In addition, it is important to point out that pregnant women cannot use this vaccine, being essential, therefore, that the planning of a pregnancy also include the vaccination card update.
By Vanessa Sardinha dos Santos
Biology teacher
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SANTOS, Vanessa Sardinha dos. "What is measles?"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/o-que-e/biologia/o-que-e-sarampo.htm. Accessed on June 29, 2021.
