Measeles

DEFINATION

SYMPTOMS

Measles signs and symptoms appear around 10 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Signs and symptoms of measles typically include :

Nonspecific signs and symptoms.

• Measles typically begins with a mild to moderate fever, often accompanied by a persistent cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis) and sore throat. This relatively mild illness may last two or three days.
• Acute illness and rash.
• The rash consists of small red spots, some of which are slightly raised. Spots and bumps in tight clusters give the skin a splotchy red appearance. The face breaks out first.
• Over the next few days, The rash spreads down the arms and trunk, then over the thighs, lower legs and feet. At the same time, the fever rises sharply, often as high as 104 to 105.8 F (40 to 41 C). The measles rash gradually recedes, fading first from the face and last from the thighs and feet.

Communicable period.

A person with measles can spread the virus to others for about eight days, starting four days before the rash appears and ending when the rash has been present for four days.

CAUSES

• Measles is a highly contagious illness caused by a virus that replicates in the nose and throat of an infected child or adult. Then, 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. They can contract the virus by putting your fingers in mouth or nose or rubbing eyes after touching the infected surface.
• About 90% of susceptible people who are exposed to someone with the virus will be infected.

RISK FACTORS

Risk factors for measles include:

• Being unvaccinated. If haven't received the vaccine for measles, they're much more likely to develop the disease.
• Traveling internationally. If travel to developing countries, where measles is more common, they're at higher risk of catching the disease.
• Having a vitamin A deficiency. If don't have enough vitamin A in diet, they're more likely to have more-severe symptoms and complications.

COMPLICATION

Complications of measles may include:

PREVENTION

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children and adults receive the measles vaccine to prevent measles.
• Measles vaccine in children
• To prevent measles in children, doctors usually give infants the first dose of the vaccine between 12 and 15 months, with the second dose typically given between ages 4 and 6 years. Keep in mind :
• If they'll be traveling abroad when there child is 6 to 11 months old, talk with there child's doctor about getting the measles vaccine earlier.
• If there child or teenager didn't get the two doses at the recommended times, he or she may need two doses of the vaccine four weeks apart.

DIAGNOSIS

• Doctor can usually diagnose measles based on the disease's characteristic rash as well as a small, bluish-white spot on a bright red background — Koplik's spot — on the inside lining of the cheek. 
• However, many doctors have never seen measles, and the rash can be confused with a number of other illnesses. If necessary, a blood test can confirm whether the rash is truly measles. The measles virus can also be confirmed with a test that generally uses a throat swab or urine sample.
• Doctors can confirm measles by examining your skin rash and checking for symptoms that are characteristic of the disease, such as white spots in the mouth, fever, cough, and sore throat.
• If they suspect may have measles based on history and observation, doctor will order a blood test to check for the measles virus.

HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT FOR MEASELES

1. Aconitum napellus
   • Sudden high fever with hot dry skin, pain in the eyes, strong thirst, and a fearful or panicky feeling are indications for this remedy. 
   • Symptoms often start near midnight, and may wake the person up.
2. Bryonia
   • This remedy can be indicated when the rash is slow to appear, and the chest is congested with a painful cough. 
   • The person's head hurts when coughing, and everything feels worse from motion, making the person want to stay completely still. 
   • Chills and shivering often come with fever, but warmth can make things worse. 
   • The person's mouth may be very dry, with a thirst for long cold drinks.
3. Euphrasia
   • When this remedy is indicated during measles, the eyes are swollen, streaming, and very sensitive to light. 
   • The tears can irritate the face, and the person's nose may run with a bland and watery discharge. 
   • Headache may intensify with fever. 
   • The person has chills, feels worse from warmth, and prefers to stay in a darkened room.
4. Pulsatilla
   • This remedy is often indicated when the rash is slow to develop and the symptoms of a cold are prominent. 
   • A stuffy nose producing yellowish mucus, a gagging cough (most often dry at night and loose in the morning), and plugging or inflammation in the ears are common. 
   • The person does not feel very thirsty, is worse from warmth and stuffy rooms, and improves in open air. 
   • People who need this remedy often want a lot of comforting and attention. (Pulsatilla is a very useful children's remedy.)
5. Belladonna
   • Fever that comes on rapidly, with a red flushed face, hot skin, dilated eyes that are sensitive to light, and a throbbing headache that is worse from jarring are all indications for this remedy. 
   • The rash is red and may be hot to touch. 
   • Many children needing Belladonna have nightmares during fever and talk or cry out when apparently asleep.
6. Gelsemium
   • A drowsy, lethargic feeling with fever, droopy eyes, and shaking chills running up and down the spine are strong indications for this remedy. 
   • The rash is itchy, hot, and dry. 
   • A headache that begins in the back of the head and neck is often seen when Gelsemium is needed.
7. Kali bichromicum
   • When this remedy is indicated in measles, cold symptoms worsen over time. 
   • Hoarseness, coughing up of stringy yellow mucus, earache, and sticky eyes may be seen. 
   • Symptoms can be worse in the morning, and the person feels best from staying in bed and keeping warm.
8. Rhus toxicodendron
   • An extremely itchy rash that feels better from applying heat may indicate a need for this remedy. 
   • The person is very restless, and may feel driven to get up and pace. 
   • Stiffness may be felt in all the muscles of the body, worse at night, from lying still in bed, and on waking in the morning. 
   • The person may have chills along with fever, and all symptoms are improved by warmth and motion.
9. Apis mellifica
   • Rash begins to develop, but fails to develop completely and disappears soon, but leaves the child unwell. 
   • Itching is worse by warmth, face and eyes are puffy. 
   • This is one of the important remedies in homeopathic treatment for measles.
10. Antimonium crudum
    • Illnesses are accompanied by a tickling cough and nausea.
    • Children are sulky and extremely irritable, they do not want to be touched or examined, or even looked at.
    • They have cracks at the corners of their mouth and/or nostrils.
    • The tongue may be white—as if it has been painted.
    • Child is drowsy, thirst less, and worse in a hot room.
11. Apis mellifica
    • The rashes are slow to come out; when come up they itch and sting. apis mellifica homeopathic medicine for measles.
    • Face and eyelids are puffy and red.
    • Children are extremely restless, anxious, clingy, and cry out in their sleep.
    • They are generally thirstless; cannot bear the heat or pressure of any sort—they do not want to be touched.
    • They have a high fever with scanty urine, and feel better for cold and cool bathing.
    • Urine is hot and there is burning during urination.
12. Arsenicum album
    • This remedy suits to restless, anxious, chilly children who want to be covered.
    • They are terribly weak but still cannot remain in one place. Restlessness.
    • Wants hot drink and drinks a sip at a time.
    • They may have diarrhea with the fever.
    • In mumps, the breasts and testes may be swollen.
13. Gelsemium
    • For measles that comes on slowly in warm weather with cold or flu-like symptoms that are accompanied by a great weariness and heaviness.
    • Homeopathic medicine for measles that often indicated where there is much chilliness, the fever is a prominent symptom, the child is dumpish, apathetic, does not want to be disturbed.
    • there is watery coryza which excoriates the upper lip and nose.
    • there is harsh, barking, croupy cough, with chest soreness and hoarseness.
    • Gelsemium, too, has an action on the skin and may be continued with benefit after the eruption has appeared; there is an itching and redness of the skin, and a decidely measly eruption produced by it.
    • It has some aching in the limbs
    • The eyes are swollen and watery.
    • They feel better after urinating.
14. Pulsatilla
    • A little later in the disease Pulsatilla symptoms may make their appearance.
    • The fever has subsided or entirely disappeared.pulsatilla homeopathic medicine for measles
    • There is coryza and profuse lachrymation.
    • Symptoms are changeable and worse in the evenings.
    • In mumps the breasts, ovaries, or testicles are painful.
    • Children are weepy, whiny, pathetic, and clingy.
    • Small children want to be carried everywhere.
    • They are generally thirstless; worse for warmth and when lying down at night; better for fresh air.
    • The cough is still dry at night, but loosens a little in the daytime.
    • The child sits up to cough.