WHAT’S HEALTH? 2

Let’s learn something from Measles

Measles is a common disease which needs no introduction.

It’s a disease caused by measles virus (MV).

Symptoms: Measles signs and symptoms appear around 10 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Sign and symptoms of measles typically include.

  • Fever
  • Dry cough
  • Runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis)
  • Tiny white spots with bluish white centers on a red background found inside the mouth on the inner lining of the cheek- also called Koplik’s spots.
  • A skin rash made up of large, flat blotches that often flow into one another.

The infection occurs in stage over 2 to 3 weeks.

  • Infection and incubation. For the first 10 to 14 days after infection, the measles virus spreads in the body. There are no signs or symptoms of measles during this time.
  • Signs and symptoms. Measles typically begins with a mild to moderate fever, often with a persistent cough, a runny nose, inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis) and a sore throat. This relatively mild illness may last 2 to 3 days.
  • Acute illness and rash. The rash is made up of small red spots, some of which are slightly raised. Spots and bumps in tight clusters give the skin a splotchy red appearance. The face breaks out first.
  • Over the next few days, the rash spreads down the arms, chest and back, then over the thighs, lower legs and feet. At the same time, the fever rises sharply. Often too high.
  • The measles rash may last about seven days. The rash gradually fades first from the face and last from the thighs and feet. As other symptoms of the illness go away the cough and darkening or peeling of the skin where the rash was may stay for about 10 days.

Complications can include

  • Blindness
  • Encephalitis (an infection causing brain swelling and potentially brain damage)
  • Severe diarrhea and related dehydration
  • Ear infection
  • Severe breathing problems including pneumonia
  • Death

Most deaths from measles are from complications related to the disease.

Parents concern on measles and their update awareness on health.

Causes of death in Measles

Measles itself does not directly cause death, but complications arising from a measles infection can lead to severe illness and, in some cases, death.

  1. Pneumonia: Measles weakens the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to secondary bacterial infections, including pneumonia. Pneumonia is a common and serious complication of measles, especially in young children12.
  2. Encephalitis: Measles can lead to inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), resulting in neurological complications, seizures, and, in severe cases, permanent brain damage or death1.
  3. Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE): A rare but severe neurological complication of measles that can occur years after the initial infection. It involves progressive and usually fatal brain inflammation.
  4. Malnutrition: Measles can decrease appetite and make eating difficult, contributing to malnutrition. Malnourished individuals are more susceptible to severe outcomes1.
  5. Immunosuppression: Measles temporarily suppresses the immune system, making individuals vulnerable to other infections and complications1.

WHO says

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/measles )

History of Measles.

NOW…

As mentioned in the previous chapter FOH again is really anxious why at least a single child after contracting measles, after 14 days of incubation period and following 10-14 days of disease, walks out free and healthy at one side and another die on the other. Its always fine to say that vaccines are really doing good but merely nullifying the virulence of measles virus by not putting deaths in vaccinated cases on record and not announcing those deaths is purely unethical from the side of scientific community (Research are on everywhere and these misleading data are not unnoticed nor can be buried).But be vaccinated or not, why measles virus leave some people uninfected, infect many and kill others? Just like Corona virus is measles virus too a demon only through an ignorant eye ? Where all those measles deaths reported in history a real virulent measles virus story?

The biggest pyramid along with some men from a few meters’ fits in a photo frame, but these viruses no matter how many in number, coming nowhere near to this proportion invades and kills the best-known automated machine of nature Homo Sapiens, and believers of ‘Survival of the Fittest’ slogan feeling nothing about this is a serious problem. Three responses to a single disease(i. being not infected ii. being infected with no complications and cure iii, running in to complications or death) in human body really worth a research and in this late hour let the vaccines save the humanity but to observe closely, evaluate intelligently and get answers is our responsibility and to know is our right and duty and learning is the aim of a passionate student and health enthusiast.

What’s FOH-2 VERSION

(foh-2’s Measles)