Measles and its prevention

  Measles is an acute respiratory infection caused by the measles virus, an RNA virus that is present in the patient’s mouth, nose, pharynx, trachea, bronchial secretions and conjunctival secretions and spreads through airborne droplets (coughing, sneezing, talking), and is highly contagious and more likely to spread in crowded, airless places. Measles patients are the only source of infection.  The incubation period of measles is 9-11 days, and the main symptoms are fever, conjunctival congestion, photophobia, increased secretions, runny nose, mucus, cough, sometimes vomiting, and diarrhea. After 2-3 days of onset of the disease, on the buccal mucosa opposite the second molars, a small blue-white or purple spot appears, surrounded by a red halo, called “Koplik” spot, to the onset of the rash, can spread to the entire buccal mucosa and the inner lip, fusing with each other, the rash fades 2 d after the onset of the rash, which can be used as a characteristic of early measles. Sometimes the soft palate mucosa is flushed before the appearance of this spot. The rash begins 4 d after onset, first appearing behind the ears, hair, face, and then rapidly spread to the neck, upper extremities, trunk and lower extremities, a rose-colored macular rash, fading with pressure, rash 2-5 d out of the whole, 5-7 d fade, body temperature decreases, systemic symptoms of toxicity, the rash in order to fade, fade, leaving brown pigmented spots and fine flaking, the entire course of the disease months 2 weeks. The common complications are bronchopneumonia and otitis media, and other complications such as encephalitis, cardiovascular insufficiency and tuberculosis dissemination can occur. During the epidemic, the diagnosis can be confirmed if “Koplik” spots are found. Treatment of the disease is mainly symptomatic, with bed rest, an easily digestible and nutritious diet, clean eyes, nose, mouth and skin, and symptomatic treatment for symptoms such as cough, high fever and convulsions.  Measles is a nationally reported Class B infectious disease. Patients are infectious from 2 days before the onset of the disease to 5 days after the appearance of the rash and need to be isolated for treatment. People who have not been vaccinated are generally susceptible to measles.  Because of the recent rise in measles cases, patients are advised to: 1. pay attention to personal hygiene and keep indoor air circulation; if you need to go to the hospital because of the disease, do a good job of self-protection and pay attention to wearing a mask to reduce cross-infection.  2, parents with small children at home, as far as possible to minimize the children to the concentration of people in public places. Take your child to receive the measles-rubella diphtheria vaccine at 8 months of age, the measles-rubella-mumps diphtheria vaccine at 1.5 years of age, and another measles-rubella-mumps diphtheria vaccine at 6 years of age.  3. For the high-risk groups identified by the health epidemic prevention personnel for emergency measles vaccination, they should receive measles vaccination as soon as possible, and measles patients should be isolated at home to avoid contact with other people.