Measles
Introduction
Measles is a viral infection that primarily affects children. Measles, which was once widespread, is
now almost always preventable with a vaccine.
Measles, also known as rubeola, is easily spread and can be deadly in young children. While global
death rates have been decreasing as more children receive the measles vaccine, the disease still
claims the lives of over 200,000 people each year, the vast majority of whom are children. The virus
that causes measles is found in an infected child or adult's nose and throat. When someone with
measles coughs, sneezes, or speaks, infectious droplets are released into the air and can be inhaled
by others. Infectious droplets can linger for up to an hour in the air. Infectious droplets can also land
on a surface and survive and spread for several hours. After touching an infected surface, you can
contract the measles virus by putting your fingers in your mouth or nose or rubbing your eyes. When
exposed to someone infected with the measles virus, approximately 90% of people who have never
had measles or been immunised against it will become infected.
Areas mostly affected
Measles was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide prior to the introduction of measles
vaccines (MVs). Despite an intensive international immunisation campaign that vaccinated over 200
million African children in 2004, there were still 450 000 deaths from measles in 2008, and measles
caused an estimated 164 000 deaths worldwide. Many measles outbreaks have occurred in recent
years all over the world, including China.
In China, measles is a notifiable infectious disease, with a large number of cases reported in recent
years. In 2007, and 2008, for example, 109,023 and 131,441 cases were reported, with incidence
rates of 8.29/100,000 and 9.95/100,00, respectively. MV has been used in China since 1967. In 1986,
China implemented the national Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), with the first dose of the
vaccine administered at 8 months of age and the second dose administered at 7 years of age. Since
2006, the second dose of MV has been administered between the ages of 18 and 24 months, and all
measles vaccinations have been provided at no cost.
Seasonal differences affect the measles' morbidity. Measles outbreaks normally occur in late winter
and early spring in temperate climes, whereas they rarely coincide with rainy seasons in tropical
regions, suggesting that climatic conditions have a role in the seasonality of measles virus infections.
There isn’t much research on how the weather affects measles incidence, despite periodic outbreaks
of the disease. Extreme events have occurred in Guangzhou, a subtropical metropolis in southern
China, as a result of global warming. Because of the warm climate and their inability to adapt to
climate change, people in this region are particularly susceptible to cold spells.
Impact on the body
The virus enters the body through the mouth, nose, or eyes. It most likely infects immune cells in the
lungs once there (respiratory system). These cells spread the virus to other cells as they travel to
lymph nodes. As these cells circulate throughout the body, virus particles are released into the
bloodstream. Blood transports the virus to various organs such as the liver, skin, central nervous
system, and spleen as it circulates throughout the body. This can lead to the most common cause of
measles, pneumonia. In measles-infected children, the respiratory and intestinal tracts are the most
affected. When the measles virus infects the lower respiratory tract epithelium and destroys local
, immunity within the lungs, this condition occurs. People with weakened immune systems are more
likely to develop a particularly dangerous type of pneumonia that can sometimes result in death,
Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), thus affecting the nervous system. Encephalitis may
produce no symptoms at all, or merely mild flu-like signs and symptoms such a fever or headache.
The flu-like symptoms might occasionally be more severe. Severe symptoms of encephalitis might
also include confusion, convulsions, or issues with mobility or senses including sight or hearing. The
virus enters the brain via a blood-brain barrier and causes swelling. Encephalitis is a complication of
measles that affects about 1 in 1,000 people. The naturally occurring measles virus prefers the
intestinal lymphoid tissue (digestive system) and can occasionally induce intestinal inflammation that
resembles Crohn's disease. It is hypothesised that an increase in the intestinal permeation of a
number of intestinally generated neuroactive peptides that interfere with brain development occurs
as a result of the measles vaccine virus-induced ileocolonic inflammation. Additionally, measles
causes diarrhoea due to dehydration and by protein losing enteropathy (PLE).
People with measles have fewer white blood cells, which protect the body from disease, and this is
reflected in the clinic as a low white blood cell count. Although the patient's white blood cell count
returns to normal after a few weeks and they have recovered from the measles, they are still much
more susceptible to other infectious diseases. Researchers studied a group of unvaccinated people
to see how measles affects the immune system. The researchers discovered that specific immune
memory cells that had been developed in response to other diseases and were present prior to the
measles virus infection had vanished from the children's blood. This would expose them to infectious
diseases against which they had previously been immune.
Symptoms
After being exposed to the virus for 10 to 14 days, measles signs and symptoms start to develop.
Common measles symptoms and signs include fever, conjunctivitis, koplik's spots, a dry cough, runny
nose, sore throat, and large blotches on the skin that frequently flow into one another. Koplik spots
are small, white spots on the inside of the cheeks that appear early in the progression of the disease.
Coughing is due to the infection of lungs and makes it very easy for the virus to be transmitted to
other people. Because the virus can enter through the eyes, it causes the thin layer of tissue lining
the eyes to become inflamed and thus the eyes become watery/itchy.
Complications/risk factors
Measles can also cause inflammation of the inner linings of the lungs' passageways, leading to
bronchitis, or inflammation of the voice box, leading to laryngitis. It is also possible to get a bacterial
ear infection. Ear infections occur in approximately one out of every ten cases of measles, with the
consequences including permanent hearing loss. Hearing loss is caused by encephalitis-induced
nerve damage in the brain. Measles can also cause deafness.
A lack of vitamin A increases your chances of developing severe measles symptoms and
complications. Vitamin A supplementation reduces measles mortality and complications. Measles
may increase vitamin A utilisation in the body, possibly due to the rapid destruction of epithelial
surfaces. You are more likely to contract measles if you travel to countries where the disease is more
prevalent. India, Somalia, Yemen, and Zimbabwe are among the countries with the most measles
cases. Being unvaccinated exposes a person to a very high risk of catching measles, especially if
they’re living in those areas.
Introduction
Measles is a viral infection that primarily affects children. Measles, which was once widespread, is
now almost always preventable with a vaccine.
Measles, also known as rubeola, is easily spread and can be deadly in young children. While global
death rates have been decreasing as more children receive the measles vaccine, the disease still
claims the lives of over 200,000 people each year, the vast majority of whom are children. The virus
that causes measles is found in an infected child or adult's nose and throat. When someone with
measles coughs, sneezes, or speaks, infectious droplets are released into the air and can be inhaled
by others. Infectious droplets can linger for up to an hour in the air. Infectious droplets can also land
on a surface and survive and spread for several hours. After touching an infected surface, you can
contract the measles virus by putting your fingers in your mouth or nose or rubbing your eyes. When
exposed to someone infected with the measles virus, approximately 90% of people who have never
had measles or been immunised against it will become infected.
Areas mostly affected
Measles was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide prior to the introduction of measles
vaccines (MVs). Despite an intensive international immunisation campaign that vaccinated over 200
million African children in 2004, there were still 450 000 deaths from measles in 2008, and measles
caused an estimated 164 000 deaths worldwide. Many measles outbreaks have occurred in recent
years all over the world, including China.
In China, measles is a notifiable infectious disease, with a large number of cases reported in recent
years. In 2007, and 2008, for example, 109,023 and 131,441 cases were reported, with incidence
rates of 8.29/100,000 and 9.95/100,00, respectively. MV has been used in China since 1967. In 1986,
China implemented the national Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), with the first dose of the
vaccine administered at 8 months of age and the second dose administered at 7 years of age. Since
2006, the second dose of MV has been administered between the ages of 18 and 24 months, and all
measles vaccinations have been provided at no cost.
Seasonal differences affect the measles' morbidity. Measles outbreaks normally occur in late winter
and early spring in temperate climes, whereas they rarely coincide with rainy seasons in tropical
regions, suggesting that climatic conditions have a role in the seasonality of measles virus infections.
There isn’t much research on how the weather affects measles incidence, despite periodic outbreaks
of the disease. Extreme events have occurred in Guangzhou, a subtropical metropolis in southern
China, as a result of global warming. Because of the warm climate and their inability to adapt to
climate change, people in this region are particularly susceptible to cold spells.
Impact on the body
The virus enters the body through the mouth, nose, or eyes. It most likely infects immune cells in the
lungs once there (respiratory system). These cells spread the virus to other cells as they travel to
lymph nodes. As these cells circulate throughout the body, virus particles are released into the
bloodstream. Blood transports the virus to various organs such as the liver, skin, central nervous
system, and spleen as it circulates throughout the body. This can lead to the most common cause of
measles, pneumonia. In measles-infected children, the respiratory and intestinal tracts are the most
affected. When the measles virus infects the lower respiratory tract epithelium and destroys local
, immunity within the lungs, this condition occurs. People with weakened immune systems are more
likely to develop a particularly dangerous type of pneumonia that can sometimes result in death,
Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), thus affecting the nervous system. Encephalitis may
produce no symptoms at all, or merely mild flu-like signs and symptoms such a fever or headache.
The flu-like symptoms might occasionally be more severe. Severe symptoms of encephalitis might
also include confusion, convulsions, or issues with mobility or senses including sight or hearing. The
virus enters the brain via a blood-brain barrier and causes swelling. Encephalitis is a complication of
measles that affects about 1 in 1,000 people. The naturally occurring measles virus prefers the
intestinal lymphoid tissue (digestive system) and can occasionally induce intestinal inflammation that
resembles Crohn's disease. It is hypothesised that an increase in the intestinal permeation of a
number of intestinally generated neuroactive peptides that interfere with brain development occurs
as a result of the measles vaccine virus-induced ileocolonic inflammation. Additionally, measles
causes diarrhoea due to dehydration and by protein losing enteropathy (PLE).
People with measles have fewer white blood cells, which protect the body from disease, and this is
reflected in the clinic as a low white blood cell count. Although the patient's white blood cell count
returns to normal after a few weeks and they have recovered from the measles, they are still much
more susceptible to other infectious diseases. Researchers studied a group of unvaccinated people
to see how measles affects the immune system. The researchers discovered that specific immune
memory cells that had been developed in response to other diseases and were present prior to the
measles virus infection had vanished from the children's blood. This would expose them to infectious
diseases against which they had previously been immune.
Symptoms
After being exposed to the virus for 10 to 14 days, measles signs and symptoms start to develop.
Common measles symptoms and signs include fever, conjunctivitis, koplik's spots, a dry cough, runny
nose, sore throat, and large blotches on the skin that frequently flow into one another. Koplik spots
are small, white spots on the inside of the cheeks that appear early in the progression of the disease.
Coughing is due to the infection of lungs and makes it very easy for the virus to be transmitted to
other people. Because the virus can enter through the eyes, it causes the thin layer of tissue lining
the eyes to become inflamed and thus the eyes become watery/itchy.
Complications/risk factors
Measles can also cause inflammation of the inner linings of the lungs' passageways, leading to
bronchitis, or inflammation of the voice box, leading to laryngitis. It is also possible to get a bacterial
ear infection. Ear infections occur in approximately one out of every ten cases of measles, with the
consequences including permanent hearing loss. Hearing loss is caused by encephalitis-induced
nerve damage in the brain. Measles can also cause deafness.
A lack of vitamin A increases your chances of developing severe measles symptoms and
complications. Vitamin A supplementation reduces measles mortality and complications. Measles
may increase vitamin A utilisation in the body, possibly due to the rapid destruction of epithelial
surfaces. You are more likely to contract measles if you travel to countries where the disease is more
prevalent. India, Somalia, Yemen, and Zimbabwe are among the countries with the most measles
cases. Being unvaccinated exposes a person to a very high risk of catching measles, especially if
they’re living in those areas.
