As spring returns, everything revives, and bacteria and viruses are no exception, with diseases such as measles, mumps, chicken pox and scarlet fever on the rise. Measles is one such common respiratory infection that has a high seasonal prevalence in winter and spring each year. Parents should be aware of the symptoms and basic treatment of measles for a rainy day as spring approaches. High incidence of measles In recent years, the high incidence of measles has shifted from young children aged 1 to 5 years old to infants under 8 months and adults over 20 years old. The impression is that infants less than 6 months of age generally do not get measles because they are born with passive immune antibodies from their mothers. However, few mothers of this generation have ever had measles; the immunity they acquired from measles vaccination in childhood does not last; and at the time of pregnancy, antibodies to the measles virus in the body have declined. Children born to such mothers do not have innate immunity to measles from the mother, so they are still at risk for measles within 6 months. Because of their young age, children with measles are very susceptible to complications such as pneumonia, laryngitis, myocarditis, and encephalitis, which can cause life-threatening respiratory distress and heart and lung failure. Therefore, special attention is needed. Common symptoms of measles Common symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctival congestion, and red, grayish white dots on the oral mucosa (Koplik’s
spots); red papular rash on the skin, which is characterized by pigmentation with bran-like flaking after the rash recedes. Severe cases can be complicated by pneumonia, myocarditis, encephalitis, etc. The transmission of measles Measles is highly contagious, and almost 90% of susceptible people who have been in contact with measles patients can be infected. The measles virus is present in large quantities in the mouth, nose, eyes, throat secretions and sputum, urine and blood of patients at the beginning of the disease, and is expelled from the body through sneezing and coughing, and suspended in the air, forming “measles virus aerosol”. Respiratory tract infections can develop after inhalation by susceptible individuals, and can also be accompanied by conjunctival infections. In addition to direct transmission mainly by airborne droplets, measles virus can also be transmitted by contact with contaminated household items as a mechanical means of carrying it for a short time and a short distance, causing infection. The treatment of measles 1, general treatment: isolation, rest, strengthen care. During the rash period, it is necessary to ensure a certain amount of nutrition (easy to digest and rich in protein and vitamins diet), but also to maintain eye and oral hygiene, and should pay attention to indoor air exchange, but not let the child blow directly. 2, symptomatic treatment: high fever can be used in small doses of antipyretic drugs as appropriate, should avoid rapid fever reduction to deficiency; cough coughing agent; irritability selected sedative. Weak children can apply gammaglobulin early. Measles isolation and quarantine period General patient isolation until 5 days after the rash, combined with pneumonia extended to 10 days. Exposure to susceptible persons with measles should be quarantined and observed for 3 weeks. Measles prevention 1, passive immunization: small infants, infirm people immediately after exposure to measles within 5 days to give immunoglobulin can prevent measles or reduce symptoms, but still need to be closely quarantined and observed, one is the possibility of atypical measles, the second is still potentially infectious to those in contact. Passive immunity can only be maintained for 8 weeks, after which active immunization measures should be taken, that is, vaccination against measles attenuated vaccine. 2, active immunization: susceptible persons should be vaccinated with measles attenuated vaccine, the age of initial vaccination in China is 8 months after birth. The U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization proposes that children aged 4-6 years should be vaccinated for the second time and re-vaccinated into college to make the immunity last. 3. Control the source of infection: isolate measles patients until 5 days after rash emergence, and extend to 10 days for combined pneumonia. 4, cut off the route of infection: patient clothing should be exposed to the sun, the room where the patient has lived should be ventilated and irradiated with ultraviolet light. During the epidemic season, susceptible children should go to public places as little as possible.