Measles in children - photos, symptoms and treatment, prevention

Measles in children are a typical viral infection caused by the measles virus. Has a specific symptoms (rash), according to which the disease is easy to identify. Measles is very contagious, transmitted through the air. The incubation period lasts up to several weeks.

This disease was already known in the Middle Ages. The first detailed description of the clinical picture of measles dates back to the 17th century, but only in the 18th century measles was identified as an independent nosological unit. At the beginning of the 20th century, the viral nature of the disease was established, and in the 1950s, measles virus was isolated.

The measles virus in structure and biological properties belongs to the family of paramyxoviruses, contains RNA, is unstable to the effects of physical and chemical factors, has a tropism for the epithelium of the respiratory tract, the digestive tract, the cells of the brain.

In this article we will consider measles in children - photos, symptoms and treatment, as well as the prevention of this infectious disease.

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How can I get infected?

Infection is transmittedairborne. Upon contact with the patient (when talking, sneezing, coughing), a person who is not vaccinated and who has not previously contracted measles will almost 100% likely to become infected.

The measles virus is extremely volatile: measles can be infected directly without contacting the patient, but simply being with him in the same house. Fortunately, the virus quickly dies, so it's almost impossible to get infected through household items, toys, clothes.

Symptoms of measles in children

The incubation period (from infection to the first manifestations of the disease) lasts from 7 to 17 days. The child is contagious to others in the last two days of the incubation period and up to the fourth day of rashes, i.e. within 9 days. It is important to know that in the first, catarrhal, period (1-3 days) measles manifests itself in the form of respiratory infection: temperature rise, headache, cough, runny nose, sore throat.

After the incubation period is over, the first symptoms of measles in children appear:

weakness;
insomnia;
general malaise;
decreased appetite;
headache;
a high temperature is possible.

After a while, there arespecific symptoms associated with measles:

tear;
a sat down voice;
photophobia;
purulent conjunctivitis;
rash.

In children, as the disease develops, typical symptoms of measles appear in the form of an enanthema - the spots of Filatov-Koplik (see Fig. photo), they are usually similar to scattered semolina, white with a red border, which are located on the mucous cheeks in the zone of chewing teeth. Also, spots can appear in the mucous membranes on the lips and gums. They occur on the second or third day after the onset of snot and cough, two to three days before the onset of rashes on the skin. As the disease develops, these rashes quickly disappear.

The disease includes three stages: catarrhal, the period of rashes and the period of pigmentation. Consider step by step how the measles begins in children:

Latent (incubation) period. Its duration is 17-21 days, the minimum - 9 days. This is the period from the moment the virus enters the child's body, until the appearance of clinical signs. This period is asymptomatic, there are no manifestations. The virus, having got into the body of the child through the respiratory tract (nose, mouth) or eyes, begins to multiply in the cells of the mucosa of these organs. After enough viruses have accumulated in these tissues, they enter the bloodstream and the second period of the disease begins. A child with measles becomes infectious in the last 5 days of the incubation period.
The first signs of measles are manifested inthe catarrhal period of the course of the disease. This period does not last long, only 3-5 days, and is characterized by the appearance of the first specific signs: there is drowsiness and fast fatigue. In young children, this is especially noticeable: yesterday the child jumped and jumped, and now strives to lie down, suddenly fell asleep, became apathetic and indifferent to the games. Cough and runny nose may appear, as well as slightly increase body temperature. The main symptom of measles at this stage is the appearance of a specific rash in the mouth at the base of the teeth. Such spots have gray-white heads with pronounced reddening around them. The presence of these spots helps early diagnosis of the disease and timely isolation of the child, if there is such a need. All the symptoms of measles in children are amplified in the dynamics of the disease: cough becomes more frequent, "barking", the body temperature gradually rises and can reach 40 °.
The period of rashes replaces catarrhal. A measles rash on the skin is a characteristic feature of this period. It initially appears behind the ears and on the scalp in the area of hair growth, extending to the face, neck area and chest. On the second day, the skin of the shoulders, arms, back, stomach is covered with a rash, on the third - the lower extremities, including the fingers, and on the face pales. This sequence of rash propagation, characteristic of measles, is an important criterion for differential diagnosis. Spotted-papular exanthema is more pronounced in adults than in children. Has a tendency to discharge and acquire a hemorrhagic character in severe illness. The period of rashes is considered to be the height of measles. Against the background of the appearance of skin rash fever becomes the most pronounced, the symptoms of intoxication are exacerbated, the catarrhal symptoms are intensified. When examining a patient, arterial hypotension, tachycardia, signs of bronchitis and / or tracheobronchitis are found.
Pigmentation period. On 3-4 days after the rash the condition improves. The temperature is normalized, the rash is extinguished, leaving pigmentation (it will eventually disappear). During recovery there is drowsiness, irritability and increased fatigue.

With atypical measles, the symptoms are erased, and some may not appear. The length of periods of the disease can vary. The period of rash can be shortened, the catarrhal period may be absent, the stage of the rash can be disturbed.

Measles in children: photos

How do rashes appear in children with measles, we offer detailed photos to view.

Diagnostics

The doctor diagnoses according to clinical manifestations (described above) and complaints of a small patient. Additionally, the following can be assigned:

general analysis of blood and urine;
serological examination (detection of measles antibodies in the blood serum of a child);
isolation from the blood of the virus;
chest x-ray (done only in exceptional cases);
electroencephalography (performed only in the presence of complications on the nervous system).

In most cases, diagnosis does not cause difficulties for the specialist.

Complications

In most cases, measles is benign, but in some cases can cause a number of complications.

After the transferred disease can develop croup, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, in rare cases - pneumonia. Interstitial giant cell pneumonia occurs in children with systemic diseases and is accompanied by vivid respiratory symptoms, infiltrates and multinucleated giant cells can be observed in the lung tissue.

However, the most difficult and severe complications is the defeat of the nervous system - especially dangerous development of measles and measles encephalitis. In this case, there is a violation of consciousness, and children can become disabled after the transferred measles.

And unfortunately, there is no specific treatment for measles, drugs are prescribed on the basis of symptoms, there are no special antibiotics or antiviral agents that would kill measles viruses. Children are treated according to the general rules for colds, and if complications arise, they are hospitalized. Therefore, methods for the prevention of measles in the form of passive and active immunization have been devised.

Treatment of measles in children

In the case of diagnosed measles in children, treatment takes place at home in most cases. If the flow is severe, the patient is hospitalized. Also, children with complications of measles or those whose home conditions do not allow for appropriate care are liable for hospitalization. Mandatory hospitalization is used for children under 1 year and children from closed childcare facilities.

In a specific treatment, a child with measles does not need it. But you should keep bed rest and watch for hygiene. Also, the patient will be helped by an abundant drink (this will prevent dehydration) and easily digestible, vitamin-rich food. You do not need to lubricate the rash. It is enough to wash the child with water at room temperature. Bathing will be possible only after the temperature drops.

Treatment of measles is symptomatic. What does it mean? With a cold, drops in the nose, coughing with antitussive drugs, fever at temperatures, etc.

For the removal of common symptoms (cough, temperature) apply various expectorant and antipyretic drugs. For prevention, conjunctivitis eyes are washed with a cotton swab dipped in warm tea brew. To antibiotics, as a rule, do not resort. They are prescribed for suspected complications.

Remember,You can give your child only those medications your doctor has prescribed.

Prevention of measles in children

Prophylaxis of measles in children is one of the important components of his health and full development. Therefore, the measles vaccine is included in the calendar of preventive vaccinations. The first vaccination is given to healthy children aged 12-15 months. Re-introduction of the vaccine (revaccination) is carried out at the age of 6 years, before the school. The vaccine contains live attenuated measles viruses, to which the child develops immunity.

The reaction to measles vaccination can be different. Sometimes children experience a slight increase in temperature to 37.5-38C. This can occur 5-8 days after vaccination and last from one to three days. In addition, the baby can develop an allergic reaction or slight convulsions against the background of increased body temperature. Reactions after vaccination very much go down with symptoms of measles, but they proceed in a light form and short terms.

Children who suffer from primary or secondary immunodeficiency and oncological diseases are not vaccinated. You can not get vaccinated if the baby has a disease that significantly reduces immunity, or takes drugs that suppress the protective functions of the body.