Measles

Overview

• Basically, Measles is a highly contagious viral disease.
• It remains an important cause of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine.
• Under the Global Vaccine Action Plan, measles also rubella are targeted for elimination in five WHO Regions by 2020.
• In detail, WHO is the lead technical agency responsible for coordination of immunization and surveillance activities supporting all countries to achieve this goal.
• Measles is transmitted via droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected persons.
• Initial symptoms, which usually appear 10–12 days after infection, include high fever, a runny nose, bloodshot eyes, also tiny white spots on the inside of the mouth.
• Furthermore, Several days later, a rash develops, starting on the face and upper neck and gradually spreading downwards.

Worldwide Death Ratio

• While global measles deaths have decreased by 84 percent worldwide in recent years from 550,100 deaths in 2000 to 89,780 in 2016 measles is still common in many developing countries, especially in parts of Africa and Asia. [4]
• Measles is a serious disease in the malnourished, vitamin-deficient or immunocompromised, in whom the typical rash may be missing and persistent infection with a giant cell pneumonitis or encephalitis may occur.
• Besides this, In tuberculosis infection, measles suppresses cell mediated immunity and may exacerbate disease; for this reason, measles vaccination should be deferred until after commencing anti tuberculous treatment.
• Measles does not cause congenital malformation but may be more severe in pregnant women.
• Mortality clusters at the extremes of age, averaging 1:1000 in developed countries also up to 1:4 in developing countries.
• Death usually results from a bacterial superinfection, occurring as a complication of measles, most often pneumonia, diarrhoeal disease or noma/ cancrum oris, a gangrenous stomatitis.
• Lastly, Death may also result from complications of measles encephalitis. [1]

Indian epidemiology then other

Measles is caused by infection with the rubeola virus.

The virus lives in the mucus of the nose and throat of an infected either child or adult.

The disease is contagious for 4 days before the rash appears, and it continues to be contagious for about 4 to 5 days after.

Infection spreads through:

• Physical contact with an infected person
• Being near infected people if they cough or sneeze
• Touching a surface that has infected droplets of mucus and then putting fingers into the mouth, or rubbing the nose or eyes.

The virus remains active on an object for 2 hours.

Development of infection:

• As soon as the virus enters the body, it multiplies in the back of the throat, lungs, and the lymphatic system.
• It later infects and replicates in the urinary tract, eyes, blood vessels, and central nervous system.
• The virus takes 1 to 3 weeks to establish itself, but symptoms appear between 9 and 11 days after initial infection.
• Anyone who has never been infected or vaccinated is likely to become ill if they breathe in infected droplets or are in close physical contact with an infected person.
• Approximately 90 percent of people who are not immune will develop measles if they share a house with an infected person. [3]

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Risk factors are things that make you more likely to develop a disease in the first place.

Pathogenesis refers to the development of a disease. It’s the story of how a disease gets started and progresses.

This is the entire journey of a disease, encompassing the cause but going beyond it.

Pathophysiology, on the other hand, focuses on the functional changes that occur in the body due to the disease. It explains how the disease disrupts normal physiological processes and how this disruption leads to the signs and symptoms we see.

Imagine a car accident. Pathogenesis would be like understanding how the accident happened – what caused it, the sequence of events (e.g., one car ran a red light, then hit another car). Pathophysiology would be like understanding the damage caused by the accident – the bent fenders, deployed airbags, and any injuries to the passengers.

In simpler terms, pathogenesis is about the "why" of a disease, while pathophysiology is about the "how" of the disease’s effects.

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Measles signs and symptoms appear around 10 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

Measles

Signs and symptoms of measles typically include i.e.:

• Fever
• Dry cough
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Inflamed eyes (in other words, conjunctivitis)
• Tiny white spots with bluish-white centers on a red background found inside the mouth on the inner lining of the cheek also called Koplik’s spots.
• A skin rash made up of large, flat blotches that often flow into one another

The infection occurs in sequential stages over a period of two to three weeks.

Infection and incubation i.e.:

• For the first 10 to 14 days after you’re infected, the measles virus incubates.
• You have no either signs or symptoms of measles during this time.

Nonspecific signs and symptoms i.e.:

• Measles typically begins with a mild to moderate fever, often accompanied by a persistent cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes (in other words, conjunctivitis) and sore throat.
• This relatively mild illness may last two or three days.

Acute illness and rash i.e.:

• Generally, The rash consists of small red spots, some of which are slightly raised.
• Moreover, Spots and bumps in tight clusters give the skin a splotchy red appearance.
• Additionally, The face breaks out first.
• Besides this, 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 (in other words; 40 to 41 C).
• All in all, The measles rash gradually recedes, fading first from the face and last from the thighs and feet.

Communicable period i.e.:

• A person with measles can spread the virus to others for about 8 days, starting 4 days before the rash appears and ending when the rash has been present for four days. [2]

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• 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. [2]

Complications are what happen after you have a disease. They are the negative consequences of the disease process.

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There’s no specific treatment for an established measles infection.

However, some measures can be taken to protect vulnerable individuals who have been exposed to the virus.

Post-exposure vaccination:

• Non Immunized people, including infants, may be given the measles vaccination within 72 hours of exposure to the measles virus to provide protection against the disease.
• If measles still develops, the illness usually has milder symptoms and lasts for a shorter time.

Immune serum globulin:

• Pregnant women, infants and people with weakened immune systems who are exposed to the virus may receive an injection of proteins (antibodies) called immune serum globulin.
• When given within six days of exposure to the virus, these antibodies can prevent measles or make symptoms less severe.

Medications:

Fever reducers:

• You or your child may also take over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Children’s Motrin, others) or naproxen (Aleve) to help relieve the fever that accompanies measles.
• Don’t give aspirin to children or teenagers who have measles symptoms.
• Though aspirin is approved for use in children older than age 3, children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin.
• This is because aspirin has been linked to Reye’s syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, in such children.

Antibiotics:

• If a bacterial infection, such as pneumonia or an ear infection, develops while you or your child has measles, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic.

Vitamin A:

• Children with low levels of vitamin A are more likely to have a more severe case of measles.
• Giving vitamin A may lessen the severity of the measles.
• It’s generally given as a large dose of 200,000 international units (IU) for children older than a year.

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Homeopathic treatment for Measles is  natural, safe and without any side-effects, and one can enjoy immense relief from these frustrating symptoms.

It is a patient-oriented science and medicines are prescribed on the characteristics of the individual rather than just the symptoms of the disease.

Aconitum Napellus:

• First stage of any illness that starts suddenly.
• Homeopathic medicine for measles that has high fever; a runny nose; a hard, dry, croupy cough; red, sore eyes also sore throat.
• Rashes itchy and burning.
• Child is restless, anxious and fearful.
• Patient is generally thirsty for cold water.
• Feels worse for warmth and at night on the other hand better in fresh air and by uncovering.

Antimonium crudum:

• illnesses are accompanied by a tickling cough and nausea.
• Children are sulky and extremely irritable, they do not want to touch or examined, or even looked at.
• They have cracks at the corners of their mouth and/or nostrils.
• The tongue may white as if it has painted.
• Child is drowsy, thirst less, and worse in a hot room.

Apis mellifica:

• The rashes are slow to come out; when come up they itch and sting.
• 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 touch.
• 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.

Arsenicum album:

• This remedy suits to restless, anxious, chilly children who want to cover.
• They are terribly weak but still cannot remain in one place (restless).
• 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.

Belladonna:

• Complaint starts suddenly and can be accompanied by bedwetting; a runny nose; a cough; sore throat; a throbbing headache and/or burning, dry, red eyes.
• The head is hot, the face red, and the extremities feel cold.
• The pupils dilate, and the tongue is red with white spots (like a strawberry).
• The rashes are red, hot, dry, burning, and very itchy.
• Children are restless and irritable, and delirious with a high, dry fever.
• With mumps the glands are hot and swollen and sensitive to touch.
• Children are generally thirstless (although they may ask for lemonade).
• They feel worse in the afternoon and cannot bear light, noise, or pressure.
• They like rest and warmth.

Gelsemium:

• For measles that comes on slowly in warm weather with cold or flu-like symptoms that are accompanied by a great weariness also 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 disturb.
• There is watery coryza which excoriates the upper lip also nose.
• Moreover, There is harsh, barking, croupy cough, with chest soreness and hoarseness.
• Gelsemium, too, has an action on the skin and may continue with benefit after the eruption has appeared; there is an itching and redness of the skin, and a decidedly measly eruption produced by it.
• It has some aching in the limbs.
• The eyes swollen also watery.
• Lastly, They feel better after urinating.

Pulsatilla:

• A little later in the disease Pulsatilla symptoms may make their appearance.
• The fever has either subsided or entirely disappeared.
• There is coryza and profuse lachrymation.
• Symptoms are changeable and worse especially in the evenings.
• In mumps the breasts, ovaries, or testicles are painful.
• Children are weepy, whiny, pathetic, and clingy.
• Small children want to carry everywhere.
• They are generally thirstless; worse especially from warmth and when lying down at night; whereas better for fresh air.
• The cough is still dry at night, but loosens a little in the daytime.
• The child sits up to cough. [5]

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1. Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine (22nd edition) Ch. 13
2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/measles/symptoms-causes/syc-20374857
3. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/37135.php
4. https://www.who.int/immunization/diseases/measles/en/
5. https://hpathy.com/cause-symptoms-treatment/measles/

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Measles?

It is a highly contagious viral disease.

Homeopathic Medicines  for Measles used by Homeopathic Doctors in treatment?

• Aconitum
• Apis mellifica
• Arsenicum album
• Belladonna
• Gelsemium
• Pulsatilla

What causes Measles?

• Rubeola virus

Give the symptoms of Measles?

• Fever
• Dry cough
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Inflamed eyes (in other words, conjunctivitis)
• Tiny white spots
• Skin rash