Fighting the Measles: Recognizing the extremely infectious illness and how it affects young people

Measles is a highly infectious viral virus that mostly affects children under the age of five and spreads rapidly via the air. The measles virus, which is more infectious than COVID-19, is a member of the Paramyxoviridae family and is recognized for its quick transmission, with each infected individual having the ability to infect 9 to 18 others.
Usually starting two weeks after exposure, symptoms include fever, coughing, and runny nose.

A characteristic rash appears next, starting on the face and moving down the body. Koplik dots, which are microscopic white spots within the mouth that indicate the start of the sickness, may occur before the rash does. Red eyes, sore throat, high fever, and swollen lymph nodes are some other symptoms.
Children are particularly susceptible since measles itself impairs immunity and may cause the body to “forget” how to defend against diseases. Measles may spread between four days before and four days after the rash appears.
Serious side effects from measles may include encephalitis, pneumonia, ear infections, and in extreme circumstances, even death. Children who have compromised immune systems are more likely to experience serious consequences.
For measles, there isn’t a particular antiviral medication. The goals of treatment are to control symptoms and avoid complications. This include getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of water, and using drugs like paracetamol to lower fever. The World Health Organization (WHO) advises vitamin A supplementation to lessen the severity of the sickness and avoid complications. Studies including ribavirin have shown potential in some circumstances, particularly in those with compromised immune systems.

Vaccination is the most reliable method of measles prevention. Three doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination are normally administered at nine months, fifteen months, and four to six years of age. The official immunization schedule in India includes the MR vaccine (Measles and Rubella), which is administered at 9 months and 18–24 months. If vaccinated against measles within 72 hours after exposure, the sickness may be prevented or at least less severe.
Measles is still a problem in India, where cases have dramatically increased recently as a result of things like low vaccination rates, particularly during the COVID-19 epidemic. Reports of clusters of illnesses in densely populated regions highlight the need for immunization programs and outbreak response vaccinations to stop the disease’s spread.As of November 2022, there have been about 12,271 cases of measles in India, which is double the 5,700 cases from the previous year.
It is the responsibility of pediatricians to inform families about the value of vaccination, to quickly diagnose and treat cases, and to strive for high vaccination rates in order to prevent measles epidemics in our communities.