"Measles" & treatment of Measles

"Measles"

  Measles  is a highly contagious airbourne viral diease. Being an airbourne, the droplets from an infected person, coughing  or sneezing can stay active  for up  to  2 hours in the air, or on a surface. from time  of  contact  with the  virus   til  the onset   of symptoms  can  be  anywhere   from  6  to 21  days.

" Onset of Symptom's"

                                          1) Runny nose

                                          2) Cough

                                          3) Aches

                                          4) Tiredness

                                          5) Fatigue

                                          6) Generally feeling  un-well & restlessness

                                          7)  Fever

                                          8)  White spot's on the inside of mouth ( called Koplik's)

                                          9) Sensitive to light

                                         10)  Rash starting from forehead & eventually travelling down the whole body.

There is no anti-viral drugs for treating measles, although in some cases antibotic's are given, for secondary

infections, such as ear infections.

"Treatment"

                       Complete rest

                       Fluids to prevent dehydration caused by fever. (  water, juice or lemonade for e.g.)

                       A cool mist from a vaporizer to relieve cough & to aid in breathing difficulties.

                       If aches & pains are svere, your doctor may suggest ibuprofen to help.

                       ( Remember never give  "Aspirin"  to a child with a viral infection, since the use of aspirin

                        in some cases has been associated "Reye Syndrome" see herewww.reyessyndrome.org/

                        Keeping a child in a darkened room will relieve their discomfort to light.

                        A warm bath with a handful of rolled oats will relieve the itch ( this one is an oldie, but works)

A child with measles should be excluded from school for 14 days from the day the rash appears.

Measles is a notifiable disease, which doctors are obligated to report. see herewww.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/24/2145576.htm for the latest reported cases.

It is extremely important that children continue to be immunized because this disease  remains

very common in other parts of the world and even slight decreases in numbers of immunized

children can result in major epidemics of measles, mumps or rubella. ( Including the congenital rubella

syndrome which seriously affects unborn children).

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

I apologize in advance, if the links don't work as i'm still sure how to do them.

Cheers Janice