Measles is a contagious infection that affects the human respiratory system. It also produces symptoms on the skin which is a characteristic of measles. A person suffering from measles will have a skin rash. The patient will also suffer from other symptoms associated with the flu such as a cough, fever and a runny nose. Measles is extremely infectious and affects almost all people who do not have an immune system response designed to fight measles. The infection can be caught simply by being in the same room as an infected individual.
It is spread through the various oral and nasal fluids that tend to be expelled during coughing and sneezing. Measles is a preventable infection. The prevention of measles is ensured by a vaccine given to a young child known as the MMR vaccine. The MMR vaccine covers Measles, Mumps and Rubella. This vaccine is given to children aged between 18 and 24 months. One of the reasons for this is the innate immunity that the baby has as a result of the immunity passed on from the mother. In some cases, this is not completely effective. Such babies are at a risk of suffering from measles.Measles is a viral infection. As such there is no cure for the condition. The immune system of the infected individual gradually fights the infection and eliminates it from the body.
During this process, the infected individual may need to be admitted to a hospital if the symptoms are grave. However, most patients require a normal amount of care and should be constantly hydrated and fed with foods that help to boost energy levels and immunity. The first symptom of measles in babies is the appearance of a fever. This is followed by the baby developing a full body rash. This rash can be used by a trained doctor as a diagnostic symptom of the condition. Once the baby has been diagnosed with measles, extra care should be taken to ensure that the baby is properly hydrated. Measles tends to drain the body of fluids and is this could lead to the dangerous condition of dehydration. A baby suffering from measles should be bathed in cool water to reduce the level of the fever and to provide relief from the itchiness of the rash. Clothes need to be changed twice as frequently so that the infection present in body fluids is eliminated. The baby's sheets should also be changed regularly. Adequate care should help the baby get over the condition in a few days.
answered by G R