What should I know about measles?
In the turbulent times of disease outbreaks and pandemics, it is extremely necessary to be careful and be able to differentiate similar symptoms of different diseases.
Measles is an extremely contagious severe disease of viral origin. Due to the high mortality rate from the disease in the age group 0-11 years, it is often called "child plague". Meanwhile, in recent years, adults die from measles more often than children.
The measles virus, like the coronavirus, enters the body through the respiratory tract. But it is more volatile and contagious, because it spreads from a sick person to a healthy person through tens of meters. It is impossible to bring measles "on your hands", unlike coronavirus, which is transmitted by tactile means.
The increase in the incidence of measles may be related to:
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with reduced immunity;
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with the refusal and skipping of vaccinations due to the coronavirus pandemic;
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with vitamin A deficiency.
Measles occurs in several stages:
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Prodromal stage (1-3 days) - characterized by an increase in temperature, weakness, headache, pain in the eyeballs, which is very similar to the coronavirus. The patient during this period is the most contagious;
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The period of exanthemas (rashes) (1-3 days) - there is a plentiful drain rash, which occurs in stages (face, trunk, lower limbs);
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Convalescence period (1-3 days) - the rash disappears in the same sequence, leaving behind pigmentation and peeling.
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The period of complications. Measles is dangerous for its complications, there are such fatal complications as encephalitis, meningitis, myocarditis, etc.
The incubation period for measles lasts from 7 to 14 days.
Remember! The main method of measles prevention is vaccination!
Head of the Organizational and Methodological Department,
GUZ "Lipetsk Regional Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital"
Volodina Larisa Viktorovna.