Measles

Measles is one of the most contagious viral diseases. It is caused by paramyxo virus and is the most unpleasant and the most dangerous of the children's diseases that result in a rash. This is due to the complications of the disease.

Symptoms of Measles

• Fever
• Reddish eyes.
• Cold
• coughing, possibly with a barking cough.
• sensitivity to light.
• greyish spots, the size of grains of sand may appear in the mucous membrane of the mouth just around the molar teeth.
• after three to four days the temperature may fall, although it can run high again when the rash appears. The spots are a clear red colour.
• The rash usually begins around the ears and spreads to the body and the legs within a day or two.

Treatments

The treatment is to stay in bed in a cool room without any bright lights. Medicines for coughing and reducing the temperature should only be given after consulting a GP. Once a person has had measles, they can never catch it again as the disease gives lifelong immunity.

If you are planning a pregnancy, you should make sure that you have a measles vaccination unless you have had the disease in the past. Having measles during a pregnancy can result in an infection of the unborn child and may in the worst case result in the death of the baby