26.07.2024
Measles: What are the symptoms and when is it time to see a doctor?
1. What is measles?
Measles, smallpox, measles (lat. morbilli - "small disease") is a viral, highly contagious disease from the group of rash fevers, which mainly affects children but also adults. It is caused by the measles virus.
2. How is the disease transmitted?
Smallpox is transmitted by direct contact with a sick person (kissing, shaking hands), through the air through respiratory droplets emitted by a sick person (coughing, sneezing) and rarely indirectly through freshly contaminated objects.
3. Clinical picture of smallpox:
After the incubation of the virus entering the body, it takes from 7 to 18 days until the manifestation of the disease and the appearance of more problems.
The symptoms are as follows:
- Increased body temperature
- Nasal discharge
- A cough
- Conjunctivitis
- Watery, red eyes
- Swollen eyelids
These symptoms last 2 to 4 days, after which the following symptoms occur:
- A jump in body temperature (over 40 degrees)
- Maculopapular rash (appears first on the face, neck and behind the ears, then the rash spreads to the trunk and extremities)
- Koplik's spots (small white dots on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity)
4. When is a sick person contagious?
An infected person is contagious to his environment on the last day of incubation, 4 days before the manifestation of the rash and 4 days after the manifestation of the rash.
5. Complications of smallpox:
Complications are more common in children under the age of 5 and adults over the age of 20.
Pneumonia occurs in every 20th affected person, and about 60% of cases of death are due to this complication.
Every thousandth patient gets inflammation of the brain, while every thousand patients with this complication die.
6. What are the preventive measures to prevent smallpox infection?
The only successful prevention measure is vaccination.
Vaccination creates solid and long-lasting immunity.
7. MMR vaccine
The MMR vaccine is given in two doses:
It is given to children in their second year of life (timely vaccine given at the age of 12 to 15 months).
Children in the seventh year of life (as part of the preparation for entering the first grade of primary school)
Vaccination against measles is part of the routine immunization program in many countries and is recommended for all persons, including children and adults. It is an extremely effective and safe way to protect against smallpox and prevent the occurrence of serious health problems.
8. Is there a possibility of re-infection with smallpox?
It's possible, but unlikely, say the CDC, the NHS and bodies such as the Mayo Clinic, an American non-profit medical institution.
The Mayo Clinic says that more than 93 percent of people who get the first dose of the MMR vaccine develop immunity to measles.
The second dose provides protection for about 97 percent of those vaccinated.
People who are not sure if they have been vaccinated against measles can have a blood test to show if they have immunity.
If you suspect that your child, you, your friends, your family have smallpox, you can check the symptoms on our website in the section Checking symptoms, after that it is best to make an appointment with a doctor.
On our website, in the Doctors section, you can check which doctors in private institutions provide examination services.
Current epidemiological situation of smallpox (measles) in the Republic of Serbia
A total of 181 measles cases were registered as of 7.7.2024. years.
In the period from 1.7.2024. until 7/7/2024. year, 31 cases of measles were registered, 23 on
in the territory of Novi Pazar, six in the territory of Belgrade and one case each in Novi Sad and Loznica.
On the territory of the city of Belgrade, 94 cases of measles were registered as part of the epidemic
reported on 22.2.2024. years. In addition, measles was confirmed in two children with territory of the Republic of Srpska. In the Reference Laboratory of the Institute of Virology, vaccines and "Torlak" serums, 76 cases were confirmed, and 20 sick people were contacts laboratory confirmed cases. Among the sick are 28 children under the age of six years, of which 25 were unvaccinated, two received one dose of vaccine each component against measles, and one is of unknown vaccination status, 19 unvaccinated persons aged 6 to 25 years, eight fully vaccinated persons between the ages of 14 and 28, as well as 41 people over 30, one of whom is fully vaccinated with two doses of measles vaccine, four are incomplete vaccinated with one dose of vaccine, one unvaccinated, and 35 unknown vaccination status. A complication in the form of pneumonia was present in seven the sick.
Six confirmed cases of measles were registered in the territory of Novi Sad.
The affected persons are over 30 years old, one of whom was incompletely vaccinated with one dose of the vaccine with the measles component, and five are of unknown vaccination status.
References:
Gradski zavod za javno zdravlje Beograd https://www.zdravlje.org.rs/index.php/aktuelne-vesti/1175-morbile-male-boginje
Institut za javno zdravlje Crne Gore
https://www.ijzcg.me/me/male-boginje-morbilli
BBC NEWS “Male boginje: Koji su simptomi i kako sprečiti zarazu”
https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/svet-68116619
Wikipedia “Male boginje”
Акtuеlnа еpidеmiоlоšка situаciја mаlih bоginjа (mоrbilа) u Rеpublici Srbiјi
https://www.batut.org.rs/index.php?content=2776
*This text is intended for informational purposes only. If you experience any symptoms, it is recommended that you seek advice from your doctor or a qualified healthcare professional.*
*Image taken from the site: https://unsplash.com/photos/baby-sleeping-tC9boyqy_40*
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