Measles, it's causes and management

Greetings everyone and welcome to my post. I'm very happy and honored to be warmly welcomed to blurt. As said in my introductory post, I'm a student nurse and today, I'll like to talk about a disease condition called measles, it's prevention and management. At the end of reading this post, you can ask questions if you wish to and you can drop any health topic in the comment section that you want me to talk on. That being said, let's begin with today's post.

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Measles also called rubeola is a contagious viral infection that causes skin rash, cough, fever and runny nose to the human body. The virus that cause measles grows in the cells that lines the throat and lungs. It is highly contagious and it spreads via air.

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Measles is caused by a virus and it's contagious , which means that it's easy for measles to spread from one person to another.it infects both children and adult and It is caused by a virus located in the respiratory tract of an infected person. When an infected person sneezes, coughs, or all's aloud, the virus drops into the air and gets carried by breeze where other person can breath them in. This droplets can stay on air for an hour before going down. When it goes down, it can land on a surface where it can live and spread for some hours. If a persons is in the place where an infected person sneezes, that person can get the measle virus and also, if a person touches the place that the virus landed and put their hands in any openings of their body.

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the signs and symptoms of measles start to appear at 10-15days after contracting the virus. The signs and symptoms includes:

1. A dry cough

2. Fever

3. Sore throat (pharyngitis)

4. Runny nose

5. Red, inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis

6. Some tiny white spots found in the inner lining of the cheek

7. Skin rash with large, flat blotches, that starts developing in the head and slowly goes round the body.

Measles infection happens in stages over 14- 21weeks.

Infection and incubation

During the first thirteen days after infection, the virus spreads in the body, showing no signs of or symptoms of it. However, it starts with a persistent cough, conjunctivitis, sore throat and a mild or moderate fever and these symptoms and signs may last for about 48hours. The rash during this period is composed of a little spots that are red and it gives the skin a splotchy red appearance beginning from the face first after which the rash spreads to the upper and lower limbs, including the back and chest with a temperature of 39-40⁰c

Recovery. the rash could last for about 7 days, after which it fades gradually starting from the face to the lower limbs. During this time, other signs and symptoms also fades away.

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in other to prevent measles, every adult and children must receive the measle vaccine In other to boost the immunity.
The measles vaccine is usually administered by a health provider and it contains Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) in each vaccine.
Children receives the first dose of the vaccine between the age of 12-15months and receives the second dose between the age of four to six years. Note that the Measles Mumps Rubella vaccine multi doses are ninety seven percent effective in protecting against measles.
However, as an adult, if you once had measles, you cannot have it again because your body has already built an immunity to the virus.

There is currently no cure for measles, the immune system takes care of the virus on its own which takes about 10-14 days. However, to feel relief from the signs and symptoms, do the following:

1. Take an acetaminophen (read medication leaflet before taking) if you have fever, pains or aches

2. Have enough rest

3. Increase your fluid intake

4. Gargle with salty water (not too salty)

5. Avoid bright light directly to the eyes

6. Tepid sponge and expose body to cool air. (Not too cool)

7. Don't take aspirin as a teenager or child unless prescribed by an health provider.

measles Is a viral infection that affects not only children but also adults. It's most often found in children with low personal hygiene. It thrives in the respiratory tract and cause a number of signs and symptoms. Vaccine can help avoid the contraction of measles.

Thank you for reading through my post, hope we've learnt something today from the comfort of your home. Don't forget to follow up for more.