What Are the Symptoms of Measles, How Does It Go?

Although not as common as before, measles is still one of the contagious diseases that are dangerous for children. We have written all about when the measles vaccine should be given, how it will pass if the child is infected with this virus.

What is measles and how does it happen?

A virus belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family is the cause of measles. The incubation period of the measles virus is 8 to 14 days.

Measles is transmitted very quickly by people carrying the virus. In other words, if the child has been in the same environment with someone who has somehow contracted the virus, it is only a matter of time before he becomes infected with the measles virus.

Watch out for 9 measles symptoms!

1. Your child’s fever is getting higher and higher.

2. You may experience cold-like symptoms. Learn the differences.

3. Small, white spots appear inside the mouth, on the buccal mucosa.

4. There will be redness, pain and sensitivity to bright light in the eyes.

5. Small brown spots appear behind your child’s ears 3 days after the first symptoms.

6. These spots merge into larger spots on the face and body.

7. Fever usually persists after the measles rash.

8. Your child becomes very weak and has a headache.

9. Runny nose and dry cough are seen.

Can measles cause other diseases?

In measles, the child’s resistance decreases, his immunity decreases. Therefore, diseases caused by bacteria can easily develop. In some cases, the virus;

• otitis media,
• Meningitis,
• It can cause diseases such as pneumonia.

How is measles transmitted?

• Check your child’s body temperature. If there is a fever, try to reduce it with a wet towel or cheesecloth.
• If your eyes are sore, rinse them with cold water.
• Make sure to drink fluids at regular intervals. Eat calorie-rich, nutritious foods little but often.

If your child starts to get worse after what seems to be getting better and complains of ear pain, be sure to go to the doctor.

The doctor recommends bed rest until the fever subsides. He examines the ear to see if there is an infection, if necessary, gives antibiotics. She can also prescribe eye drops for her sore and red eyes.

Giving vitamin A to the child during measles increases the lamb’s body resistance. In this way, the child can overcome the disease in a milder way.

Watch out for these if your child has measles

• Do not send your child to kindergarten/school until the spots fade. You know measles is a contagious disease.
• Hisar Intercontinental Hospital Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Specialist Dr. Ramazan Gözü Küçük draws attention to the fact that patients carrying the measles virus are transmitted by respiratory droplets of saliva. For this reason, he recommends that you keep your little one at home so that the virus does not infect other children, even within 10 days after the spots disappear.
• Ventilate your child’s room well. It is also important for the lamb to rest in a sun-exposed room.
• Be careful not to catch a cold. Since his immunity is low, he can easily catch other diseases, attention!

You can protect your child from this nasty virus with the measles vaccine

Of course, you should get the vaccine before your child gets sick. Experts say that if your child has not had measles, or if you have another child, you should definitely get the measles vaccine.

When is the measles vaccine given?

In his book Modern Baby Care, Dr. Erhan Ateş states that the measles vaccine, which was used in the 9th month, is now administered after the 1st birthday. Okay but why?

• The level of protection of the single dose vaccine administered early was not very high. Let’s explain why. In the womb, the baby is born with antibodies against measles. These antibodies have a lifespan of 12 months. When the baby is vaccinated before 12 months of age, the immune system relies on borrowed antibodies from the mother and makes its own antibodies against the measles virus. In other words, it is effective to vaccinate after measles antibodies taken from the mother are removed from the scene.
• Single dose measles vaccine was discontinued as measles was rarely seen compared to the past. This has happened with the widespread vaccination campaigns of the Ministry of Health.
• Today, children get both measles, rubella and mumps vaccines at 12 and 15 months . Thus, they can be protected from 3 diseases with a single vaccine.