Measles in children: symptoms, treatment

Measles has "matured" in recent years, and so far the prevailing misconception about its childishness often leads to a delay in diagnosis and the rapid spread of infection in educational institutions, families and other groups. However, it is comforting that children under the age of 3 rarely get measles because of the lack of extensive contacts and thanks to the immunity transmitted from the mother. However, if the mother of the measles was not sick and was not vaccinated against her, the infant may become ill in a number of unfavorable circumstances.

Symptoms.

In children, the symptoms of the disease, in principle, are the same as in adults. The disease is usually divided into three periods.

1. A latent period lasting from 6 to 18 days. In the course of it, the virus in the body is not capable of causing any symptoms.

2. The interim period lasts 3-4 days. It is accompanied by symptoms that are typical of any acute respiratory infections: general malaise, abundant discharge from the nose, conjunctival inflammation of the eyes, cough, high fever. With the passage of time, these phenomena gradually intensify - photophobia, whooping cough, swelling of the face, and sometimes inflammation of the larynx with the onset of severe suffocation can develop. The child appears irritability, he does not sleep well. There may also be headache, vomiting, abdominal pain, problems with stool( usually diarrhea).This period is characterized by a manifestation on the cheeks( from the inside) and gums of small white spots with reddish circles around them. They are a sure sign of measles and appear usually 2-3 days before the rash or on the second day of the appearance of the rash.

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3. The period of "eruption" is characterized by a new increase in temperature and a worsening of the patient's condition. A red rash begins to appear - first on the ears, then on the cheeks and forehead, and then the rash becomes more extensive, covering completely the whole body and limbs. The rash disappears within 3-4 days, only light brown spots remain. The skin begins to peel off, as it becomes very dry. The child all this time suffers from terrible itching. But the situation gradually improves as soon as the body temperature decreases.

Everyone knows that measles manifests itself in the form of a rash. But this is only by the end of the week( by 4-6 days), when the baby blooms from head to foot with pink color. Up to this point, the disease can be taken for flu, conjunctivitis or intestinal poisoning. The picture will be cleared only by the children's doctor, as soon as he looks into the child's mouth. There will be grayish-white rashes the size of the poppy seed on the mucous cheeks near the gums and the molars. This is a sure sign of measles. To complement the picture will be typical of this disease spotted rash. It arises from the influx: the 1st day - in the face and neck area, the 2nd day - on the shoulders and the trunk, the 3rd day - on the legs and hands. The rash disappears exactly in the same sequence as it appears. There are only traces - brownish-brown pigmented spots. By this time the disease itself is already beginning to decline.

However, measles do not always flow as described. Sometimes it stretches and stretches, while fostering new fellow travelers. It is such collateral fellow travelers - tracheobronchitis, laryngitis, pneumonia, stomatitis, otitis media, encephalitis, polyneuritis and others - the main causes of the adverse outcome of measles. Usually measles in children is treated at home. Only patients with a severe course of the disease or those who do not have proper conditions at home are sent to the hospital.

Treatment.

In the course of treatment of measles, the purity of skin and mucous membranes is extremely important. Several times a day, it is necessary to wash eyes with warm boiled water or wipe with 2% sodium hydrogen carbonate solution. After this 3-4 times a day you need to drip the vitamin A and sodium sulfacil. Nose must be cleaned with cotton swabs, previously moistened them in a warm vaseline oil. Dry lips cracked with grease or boric petroleum jelly. In addition, it will be necessary to carry out the medication prescribed by the doctor.

In children, treatment of measles must necessarily include bed rest during the entire fever period. The child will need to provide adequate age appropriate nutrition and a sufficient amount of liquid( fruit juices, tea, compotes, fruit drinks, liquid kissels, etc.).Measles are more easily tolerated by children who have been immunoprophylaxis in advance. Emergency immunoprophylaxis( if there was a contact with a measles patient) is carried out previously not vaccinated children between the ages of three months and four years by a single injection of intramuscular immunoglobulin. For children older than is held for special indications.

Prevention.

Children can be protected from measles by vaccination. It is carried out at the age of 12 months. Then repeated revaccination is carried out at 6 years. The inoculation is done subcutaneously under the scapula. It is necessary to protect the baby from this disease and from serious complications caused by measles. All vaccinated children who were in contact with a sick child are urgently vaccinated.

A contact that has not been previously ill or vaccinated has been vaccinated no later than 72 hours after contact. If more time has passed, an immunoglobulin is administered. These measures help to prevent measles incidence or reduce the severity of the course. Contraindications for vaccination - acute infectious diseases, organic heart damage, blood diseases, acute nephritis and rheumatism. In most cases, vaccination prevents the retention of the measles virus in the body. It is with him in recent years associated the development of many severe chronic diseases of the central nervous system( eg, multiple sclerosis).