Measles

Measles
Measles or as known as Rubeola is a childhood infection caused by a virus. Measles can be serious and even fatal for infant.

Symptoms
Measles signs and symptoms usually appear 10 to 14 days after the exposure to the virus. Symptoms such as

• Fever
• Dry cough
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Skin rash
• Diarrhea
• Dehydration

The incubation period of measles is 10 to 14 days after infected

Causes

The cause of measles is a virus that replicates in the nose and throat of an infected child or adult.

When someone with measles coughs, sneezes or talks, infected droplets spray into the air, where other people can inhale them. The infected droplets may also land on a surface, where they remain active and contagious for several hours.

You can contract the virus by putting your fingers in your mouth or nose or rubbing your eyes after touching the infected surface

Risk Factors

Being unvaccinated - If you haven't received the vaccine for measles, you're much more likely to develop the disease.

Traveling - If you travel to developing countries, where measles is more common, you're at higher risk of catching the disease.

Having a vitamin A deficiency - If you don't have enough vitamin A in your diet, you're more likely to contract measles and to have more-severe symptoms.

Infants

Unvaccinated pregnant mother

Prevention

If someone in your household has measles, take these precautions to protect vulnerable family and friends:

• Isolation - Because measles is highly contagious from about four days before to four days after the rash breaks out, people with measles shouldn't return to activities in which they interact with other people during this period
• Away from the infected person
• Vaccinate- Anyone who at risk of getting the measles who has not been fully vaccinated receives the measles vaccine as soon as possible