Measles is viral infection that mostly affects children. Measles were the cause of many a death in the yester years but due to progress in medical science the death rate due to measles has been brought down. Children are nowadays given preventive vaccines that helps prevent the child from falling ill with measles. Even after such precautionary measures, some children contact the measles virus and get ill. Timely diagnosis can save a child’s life.

Measles symptoms are obvious after 10 to 14 after contacting the virus. These symptoms include fever, sore throat, runny nose, dry cough, inflammation on eyes and skin rash. Once the symptoms are visible, the skin rash spread and fever rises quickly and becomes high. Measles is a contagious disease and a person can spread the virus by coughing or sneezing. Others can contact the virus by being present in a measles infected environment or putting fingers in mouth or rubbing eyes after touching a measles infected object.

People who have not been vaccinated are at greatest risk for contacting measles. Travelers who visit countries where measles is common can catch measles. Vitamin A deficiency also increases the risk of catching measles. Symptoms of measles are severe in patients with Vitamin A deficiency. Complications can arise after contacting measles. Patients can also get an ear infection, throat infection (bronchitis, laryngitis), pneumonia or face a low platelet count.

Treatment generally does not get rid of measles infection. They can, however, reduce the intensity of the symptoms and relieve the pains. There are post exposure vaccines which, if given within 72 hours of exposure, may prevent the person falling ill with measles, or reduce the intensity of the illness.

Other medications include fever reducers to reduce the fever. Antibiotics are prescribed if a person also develops a bacterial infection like ear infection or pneumonia. Vitamin A is prescribed in large doses for 2 days to patients who have a Vitamin A deficiency.

Measures can be taken to increase comfort at home. A measles patient should take lots of rest. He/ she should also increase fluid intake. Some sort of humidifier should be used to give dry cough and sore throat a relief. Keeping lights low can relieve stress from the eyes. Since measles are contagious, a measles patient should be kept isolated from other family members. Anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated against measles should be given the vaccination immediately. Anyone who has already had measles, cannot contact them again as they have built immunity against the disease.