Measles
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Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that is most commonly seen in children. The virus that causes measles is found in the nose and throat, and it spreads through coughs and sneezes in the air and on surfaces. People infected with measles have a rash made up of small red spots and bumps, a fever at around 104-105°F (40-41°C).
Measles weakens the immune system and can lead to complications like pneumonia, which may ultimately lead to death.
Symptoms
Symptoms of measles aren’t visible immediately; they usually appear around 10-14 days after exposure to the virus. Early symptoms include dry cough, tiny white spots on the inside of the cheeks, conjunctivitis, and high fever. A rash that starts from the face and spreads throughout the body begins to appear around 7-18 days after exposure.
Treatment and Prevention
Measles is best prevented by getting 2 doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine as a child. Getting both doses of the MMR vaccine is about 96-97% effective in preventing measles. Because of high vaccination rates, measles has become very rare in the United States.
Although there isn’t a specific treatment for measles, vitamin A supplements, post-exposure vaccination, and antibiotics can help relieve some symptoms.
Measles Throughout History
Measles is thought to have originated from cattle thousands of years ago and was first described in the 9th century in Persia. Measles outbreaks became a widespread occurrence across the world as the virus continued its infection. Following a measles outbreak in a Boston boarding school, the measles vaccine was developed in 1963 and later transformed into the present-day MMR vaccine in 1971.
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