Measles symptoms in newborns. Measles in infants: possibility of infection, symptoms, treatment features. How dangerous is measles and how can it manifest itself?

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that affects children more often than adults. Babies under 1 year of age are especially vulnerable, since their immune system is not yet developed and antibodies to measles viruses are not produced. The disease is difficult to tolerate and can slow down the development of babies. It is important to protect them from contact with a sick person. Older children are vaccinated against measles. Children who have not been vaccinated are most often infected.

Content:

How does measles spread?

The virus spreads through the air, the current from which can even reach another floor through ventilation pipes. In a closed, cramped room, it easily affects the respiratory tract, mucous membrane of the throat and eyes. It also enters the body with droplets of saliva from a sick person when he sneezes or coughs. Sunlight quickly kills the measles virus. Disinfection of the room in which sick children were located is not required; good ventilation is sufficient, since the lifespan of the virus is only 2-3 hours at normal temperature.

If a child is not vaccinated on time, then in close contact with a sick person he will definitely get sick. The virus reaches its peak development towards the end of the incubation period and over the next few days. It is at this time that the patient is contagious to others and should not have contact with other children or attend kindergarten or school.

The measles virus, during its life processes, produces toxic substances that poison the body of children. A symptom of measles is a characteristic red rash on the face and body.

Forms of measles in children

Based on the nature of its course, measles is divided into typical (with sequential development of symptoms) and atypical (with mild symptoms).

Atypical shape, in turn, is divided into the following types:

1. Abortive (begins with typical signs, and then after 1-2 days their development is abruptly interrupted. Rashes on the face and body are pale and very scanty, quickly disappear).
2. Mitigated. Catarrhal manifestations and signs of intoxication are minor. The rash is small, rare, and disappears quickly. The presence of measles is indicated by spots at the base of the teeth. In this form, the disease usually resolves in children who are given an injection of gamma globulin for preventive purposes, if there is already a person with measles in the house.
3. Erased - the symptoms are subtle and may not appear in full.
4. Asymptomatic - proceeds like a mild cold.

Atypical forms of measles occur only in vaccinated children. The disease is mild, but the risk of complications remains.

A person who has had measles typical type, cannot get sick a second time, since the body develops lifelong immunity. The disease can have varying degrees of severity (mild, moderate and severe). There are also measles with complications and smooth measles.

Most often, measles occurs in schoolchildren and preschool children who have not been vaccinated. At the same time, it proceeds in a typical form.

If a woman had measles before pregnancy or was vaccinated, then the child cannot get sick in the first 3-5 months, since antibodies to the virus are transmitted to him from the mother. Subsequently, the immune system weakens. Measles vaccinations are given to children only after 1 year, so the likelihood of infection is increased in babies 5-12 months old. Their symptoms of measles are more severe than in older children, and the risk of complications is higher.

Video: Measles in children. Features of the course

Periods of the disease

The virus begins to manifest itself in the body of sick children after the incubation period, which can range from 8 to 21 days. Measles is characterized by a sequential development of ailments. The disease passes through the following periods:

1. Prodromal (catarrhal). The first signs of the disease associated with damage to the nasopharynx and upper respiratory tract appear; within 3-4 days, catarrhal manifestations develop and become more severe.
2. Rash period. A rash appears behind the ears and on the face. From this moment on, the cough and runny nose begin to subside. The period lasts from 3 to 4 days.
3. Pigmentation period. The rash spreads to the body, forming red spots. After 1-2 weeks, the skin clears up and recovery begins.

Symptoms characteristic of different periods of measles

The disease begins like a common cold, with a runny nose, cough, and fever.

Prodromal period

The child's temperature rises. In addition to a runny nose and a dry, rough cough, there are also signs of intoxication of the body: nausea, vomiting. Convulsions may occur. The baby sleeps poorly and refuses to eat. It is even possible to experience fainting.

During this period, the body is especially susceptible to other types of infection, since the immunity of sick children is sharply weakened. Signs of laryngotracheitis appear: barking cough, difficulty breathing. They arise due to inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx and trachea, swelling and narrowing of the respiratory passages.

If a child has measles, the symptoms in the most acute period are as follows:

• dry barking cough;
• nasal congestion, runny nose;
• conjunctivitis (eyes and eyelids turn red, pus may accumulate in the corners), fear of bright light;
• lethargy and drowsiness.

The most characteristic sign of measles is spots at the base of the molars. They occur because the virus destroys the mucous membrane. She is getting thinner. White spots are surrounded by a red, swollen border. By this sign, measles can be distinguished from other diseases that have similar manifestations. For example, a barking cough can occur with false croup or whooping cough. A red rash is a characteristic manifestation of rubella and chickenpox. It is at this stage of the disease that the child can infect other people.

Period of rash

The temperature rises to 39-40 degrees. Signs of inflammation of the nasopharynx and respiratory tract (cough and runny nose) increase. Thirst appears due to dryness of the oral mucosa. The baby's lips are cracking.

The face swells, a rash appears - first behind the ears, then it covers the entire face, moving to the neck and body. The reason is vasodilation due to high temperature, destruction of red blood cells by viral toxins. Individual spots begin to merge, forming shapeless areas protruding above the skin around a central 2 mm core.

The spots spread to the chest, abdomen, back, and limbs. Even the feet are covered with them. This continues for up to 4 days. During this time, the runny nose and cough gradually disappear, and the temperature normalizes. The baby feels better and has an appetite.

Pigmentation period

The spots have a bluish tint. They become increasingly darker, and the skin clears up in about 8-14 days. The child's condition is normalizing. Conjunctivitis goes away. Mood and appetite return to normal. Children are not contagious 5 days after the rash appears.

Characteristic features of measles in children

Contagious infectious diseases in children have similar symptoms, but occur differently and have different durations. The survivability of pathogens is not the same, so the time required to isolate the patient is also different.

Measles can be distinguished from other diseases by the nature of its course. First, a temperature of up to 39 degrees appears, then the eyes turn red, begin to water and fester.

After this, a profuse runny nose appears, the throat turns red, and characteristic spots form on the gums.

1.5 days after the rash, a red rash appears on the mucous membrane, first on the face, then spreading throughout the body.

With the appearance of the rash, the temperature rises to 40 degrees. Gradually, spots on the body turn blue and become discolored. The temperature drops sharply to normal, the runny nose disappears, and the eyes get better.

If there are no complications, the illness lasts no more than 2 weeks.

Possible complications of measles in children

The symptoms that appear in a child are not as dangerous as the consequences of complications, which occur quite often. Complications of two types may occur: primary (due to the effect of the virus itself on the organs) and secondary (due to decreased immunity and penetration of bacteria - staphylococci, pneumococci and others).

TO primary complications relate:

1. Viral types of pneumonia, laryngotracheitis, bronchitis, intestinal diseases. They occur in the initial phase of the disease.
2. Lesions of the central nervous system, brain (encephalitis, meningitis). Their appearance is possible 3-5 days after the formation of rashes.

The child's condition is serious and death may occur.

Secondary complications can also be early or late. These include bacterial pneumonia and bronchitis, as well as inflammation of the middle ear (otitis media), and sore throat. Secondary complications can also be inflammatory diseases of the kidneys and bladder, appendicitis, purulent ulcers on the skin.

Video: Symptoms of measles in children. The importance of vaccinations

Diagnostics

The nature of the disease can be determined primarily by studying external signs. The appearance of spots on the skin of measles is similar to an allergy. The difference is that with an allergy, the rash is itchy, and in addition, the child has no signs of intoxication (vomiting, diarrhea). At the same time, antihistamines help quickly get rid of the rash. They do not work on measles rash.

To clarify the diagnosis, blood and a nasopharyngeal smear are examined for the presence of antibodies to the measles virus using ELISA and others. If antibodies are detected, the child is sick. This analysis makes it possible to distinguish measles from other contagious infectious diseases that have similar manifestations (for example, herpes, rubella).

Video: Signs of measles, complications, importance of vaccination, treatment

Treatment

If the disease proceeds without complications, then treatment is carried out at home. In severe cases, primary and secondary complications, the child is hospitalized.

The body copes with the virus on its own. Treatment is aimed at eliminating ailments, as well as general strengthening of the body.

Medicines used to reduce fever, antitussives (Stoptussin) and expectorants (Ambrobene, Ambroxol), eye drops (Albucid, Retinol).

For a runny nose, vasoconstrictor nasal drops Otrivin Baby and Tizin Xilo are used. For children under 2 years of age, only drops are used; for older children, sprays can be used.

Arbidol, influenzaferon, interferon are used as antiviral protection agents.

At home, you can gargle with a solution of soda or decoctions of chamomile and calendula. They can also be used to wash the eyes.

To generally strengthen the body, the child is given complex preparations containing vitamins A and C. Immunoglobulins are administered to restore immunity.

Antibiotics are used only for complications of a bacterial nature (pneumonia, bronchitis).

Warning: When the first signs of illness appear, the child should be shown to a doctor. Measles can easily be confused with diseases that have a completely different approach to treatment. Self-medication leads to serious complications.

Video: Treatment of measles, nutritional features, complications

Prevention

It comes in two types – emergency and planned.

Emergency vaccination consists of administering gamma globulin to children aged 3 months to 4 years in case of contact with a sick person. Prevention is carried out if the baby has not been vaccinated or has not had measles before. Such prevention is effective only during the incubation period. If a cough and runny nose have already appeared, the injection will not help.

Routine vaccination is carried out for children at 1 and 6 years of age. At the same time, immunity to the measles virus is developed. It is not lifelong and weakens after a few years.

An outbreak of measles was recorded in Ternopil. In this regard, the city council announced that from October 10, children who have not been vaccinated against measles, according to the vaccination calendar, will not be accepted into kindergarten or school.

In this regard, we would like to remind you that not only children attending the group, but also their younger brothers and sisters are at risk of contracting measles. Infants under one year of age rarely get measles- This is mainly explained by a minimum of contacts with other people. However, there is no need to relax: measles has been and remains one of the main causes of child mortality.

Measles outbreak in Ternopil

In Ternopil, 5 cases of the disease in children are already known. “Three recorded cases can be considered a measles outbreak. And as of October 7, 2017, five cases of measles have already been recorded,” said the deputy. Olga Yarmolenko, head of the health department of the Ternopil Council. Now in Ternopil we know of 1,134 children without a single vaccination, and 8,663 children with a violation of the vaccination schedule. Let us recall that in Europe in one year 35 people died from measles. . In Kyiv, 11 cases of measles were registered over six months.

Measles is an infectious viral disease with a high level of susceptibility, and although the disease is considered “childhood,” anyone can become infected with it, including newborns. This, as a rule, happens in the case when the baby’s mother has never had measles and was not vaccinated against it, and the child had the imprudence to “communicate” with the carrier of the virus. That is, under the confluence of a number of unfavorable circumstances.

This infection spreads by airborne droplets from a sick person to a healthy person during conversation, coughing and sneezing. But in the external environment the virus is unstable and dies almost immediately outside the human body. A person who has had measles develops immunity and recurrent cases of the disease are extremely rare.

• Measles is primarily associated with a rash. This is true, but there is an interesting nuance: pink spots on the child’s body (in classical measles they are defined as Belsky-Filatov-Koplik spots) appear closer to the 5-6th day of the disease, and before that other manifestations take place.
• The first to appear are signs of general intoxication (weakness, lethargy), body temperature rises to 38-39 degrees, the throat may hurt, the voice becomes hoarse and a dry cough appears, mucopurulent discharge from the nose is not uncommon. At the same time, there may be abdominal pain and diarrhea. "What is this? Flu, sore throat, bronchitis,” the parents wonder, and, of course, call the doctor.
• The pediatrician, examining the child, looks into the baby's mouth and, noticing tiny whitish-grayish rashes on the mucous membrane of the cheeks in the area of ​​the molars, diagnoses the child with measles. Another characteristic symptom of measles is conjunctivitis. Its symptoms are increased lacrimation, photophobia, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the child's eye and purulent discharge from the eyes.
• The rash appears, as already mentioned, gradually: first, spots appear on the face and neck, the next day it “sprinkles” the shoulders and torso, and already on the third day the rash covers the arms and legs. Looking ahead, we will say that after treatment, the rash disappears in the same sequence, leaving brown spots at the site of the rash for some time.

Sometimes measles can be accompanied by complications, which may include otitis media, laryngitis, stomatitis, polyneuritis, encephalitis and pneumonia.

Treatment of measles

It should be said that, despite such serious symptoms, children under one year old can easily tolerate measles, if, of course, treatment was started on time and carried out correctly.

To date, there are no drugs that directly treat measles, and its treatment comes down to relieving the symptoms of the disease and preventing the development of possible complications.

• Fever is treated with age-appropriate drugs based on paracetamol or ibuprofen, but aspirin should not be given to patients with measles; it is believed that it can cause serious complications, for example, Reye's disease. Expectorants and anti-inflammatory aerosols are used to treat the respiratory tract.
• During the treatment period, hygiene of the skin and mucous membranes is very important. The nose is cleaned with cotton swabs soaked in Vaseline oil. The child’s eyes are washed several times a day with warm boiled water, chamomile infusion or strong tea, and then a solution of sodium sulfacyl or, at the discretion of the doctor, vitamin A is instilled 3-4 times a day.
• To relieve one of the most unpleasant and annoying symptoms - itching on the skin, it is recommended to wash and rinse the body with synthetic tannin.

If a child refuses to eat during illness (or eats less than usual), this is not a cause for concern, but more fluids should be offered. And, of course, a sick child needs bed rest, although, it is clear that when it comes to children under one year old it will not be otherwise.

Only in very severe cases of the disease and when complications occur will the doctor prescribe antibiotics.

Vaccination

It is carried out if the child has not had time to get measles - between the ages of one and one and a half years. Vaccination in most cases protects against measles or at least helps to reduce the severity of the disease.

Many parents believe that it is not for nothing that all childhood diseases are called “childhood”, so they need to be overcome in childhood, and then they are easily tolerated. Unfortunately, this opinion is erroneous. A lot of childhood infections and diseases are quite dangerous for the child’s body, as they can cause serious complications. One such serious childhood disease is measles.

Measles is an acute infection caused by the Polynosa rnorbillorum virus. This infection affects the upper respiratory tract, the conjunctiva of a child's eyes, and can also cause a skin rash. An interesting fact is that the measles virus is dangerous only for humans and some species of monkeys, but for other animals it cannot cause any harm.

Since the measles virus dies very quickly when exposed to sunlight, it is not possible to become infected with this virus through clothing, hands, shared toys and third parties. Measles can be spread through the air through talking, coughing or sneezing. It is necessary to take into account the fact that if there was a person sick with measles in the room, the virus will persist here for two hours.

In addition, the measles virus easily spreads through corridors, apartments, and also through the ventilation system, so that one sick baby can actually make an entire apartment building sick.

Vaccination can protect your baby from the measles virus. In addition, children under one year of age are also considered protected from measles if their mothers have been vaccinated against measles or have previously had this disease. In this case, babies under one year old receive antibodies against measles from their mother.

Measles in children under one year of age is very severe and is considered the most dangerous for this category of children. Medical statistics show that measles in children under one year of age has a very high percentage of deaths and complications.

You can only get measles once in a lifetime, after which the child will have lifelong immunity.

In babies under one year old, the measles virus weakens the immune system quite significantly, and the disease is often accompanied by various infections and exacerbation of chronic diseases. If a child under one year of age, in addition to measles, has tuberculosis, anemia or rickets, then the course of measles in such children has a rather unfavorable prognosis.

Incubation period of the disease for babies under one year old it is about ten days. In such children, the first symptoms of measles are a sharp increase in body temperature, headache, lethargy, cough, runny nose, tearfulness and loss of appetite. After a couple of days, the temperature subsides somewhat, and other symptoms of the disease intensify. Babies under one year of age may develop hoarseness, barking cough, photophobia, swelling of the eyes, and red spots in the mouth. After this, the child develops a skin rash, which is localized first around the ears and on the face, and then begins to descend to the chest area, gradually spreading throughout the body.

Most often, in a child under one year old, the rash can last about three days, after which it gradually fades in the order in which it appeared. At first, the rash becomes bluish and then turns into light brown spots. Such stains can last up to two weeks.

After it happens

There is an opinion that babies under one year old cannot become infected with childhood diseases because they are protected by their mother’s immunity. Let's find out today in what situations measles is possible in an infant, how to protect it, and in case of illness, treat it, what is the difference between prevention at 6 months and at 12 months.

When writing an article, I use professional resources, articles and websites, to ensure that the information is as accurate as possible. At the end of the article I provide links to some sources. But I want to warn you that all the material is given as information, and for treatment and prevention, go to the doctor.

What is measles in an infant?

Measles is an acute viral infection that is highly contagious. For example, if there are 10 people in a room who have been in contact with a sick person, 9 of them will definitely become infected with the measles virus.

And the measles virus is not so terrible as the fact that it causes serious complications, especially in one-year-old children.

And when it comes to newborns and children under one year old, this is the most vulnerable group of patients. Because only vaccination can fully protect a baby, and it is not done at such an early age.

Then how to protect the baby, you ask. We'll talk about this below.

You can see in the article.

When can a baby become infected with measles virus and when not?

This question worries many mothers. And so now I will tell you in detail the options for the development of events.

Is it possible for a six month old baby to get measles?

• If a mother has previously had measles and feeds her baby milk, the likelihood of infection is practically reduced to zero. After all, the mother gave her immune cells to the child in the womb, through the placenta, as well as during breastfeeding, and the child is considered completely protected. In such a situation, it is not even recommended to administer immunoglobulin to the baby in contact with the patient;
• If the mother has been vaccinated against measles and she is breastfeeding the baby, the child has the mother’s immunity, but after 6 months, urgent vaccination is recommended, since there is a chance of infection;
• If the baby is on breastfeeding, and the mother is not vaccinated and has not had measles, the probability of becoming infected is 99%;
• A formula-fed baby will become infected with this virus in 99% of cases.

Can fall ill baby from 6 to 12 months?

The likelihood of contracting measles is very high, but if you are vaccinated, the risk of infection is reduced by 50%. Why not 100% you ask? The fact is that the recommended age for vaccination is 12 months. Since only after this milestone is the baby able to fully develop its own immunity to measles infection.

But sometimes babies are vaccinated earlier, for example, from 6 months. These children will also develop immunity, but not completely, and infection is possible, but with milder symptoms. And this is already better. But doctors recommend that such infants be vaccinated again as soon as they turn 1 year old in order to develop full immunity.

Symptoms of measles small child

How do you know if a newborn has measles? What manifestations of the disease will there be so as not to make a mistake with the diagnosis? I’ll say right away that most often the symptoms are not as obvious and severe as in older children, that is, if the temperature is not high, if the rash is not severe. But serious complications are possible.

Here are the main classic manifestations of the disease:

• First there is a latent period, approximately 10 to 28 days. This is the time when the virus is already in the body and its number is growing, but there are no external manifestations, the so-called latent incubation period;
• Then the symptoms of a cold appear first: watery eyes, runny nose, temperature up to 40 degrees Celsius, cough. This continues for 4-5 days;
• Specks appear in the mouth, gray-white in color, and may look like grains of sand, which are scattered on the inside of the mouth. They are also called Koplik spots. This symptom is a distinctive feature of measles from other viral diseases;
• Then on day 4-5 a rash appears, first on the head, and then lower, on the arms and finally on the limbs. When a rash appears, the fever intensifies again, and the temperature can reach 40 degrees;
• The rash may be a little itchy and this makes infants even more irritable;
• Acne itself resembles a crust on the body;
• After another 4-5 days, pimples stop appearing and itching decreases. They disappear within a few days, leaving the skin dry and flaky.

How to treat measles in a child under one year old?

There is no specific treatment or drug that directly fights the virus. Everything, that is, is aimed at relieving symptoms. And in case of complications, doctors use “heavy artillery” in the form of other specific drugs.

Another important point is that measles is a virus and can never be treated with antibiotics. They can only worsen the course of the disease. Antibacterial drugs are prescribed only by a doctor and only when a bacterial infection is associated with the virus.

If a baby under one year old gets sick, then most likely treatment will be carried out in a hospital, under the supervision of a doctor, to avoid complications. But sometimes the doctor, after examining the baby, allows him to stay at home, since his condition is normal.

1. At high temperatures, it is allowed to give children's paracetamol (for example, Panadol syrup) or Ibuprofen (for example, Nurofen syrup). Never give children aspirin (another name for acetylsalicylic acid) - this is very dangerous;
2. Breastfeed not on time, but on demand. Give extra liquid, such as water. Since dehydration is possible;
3. Ventilate the room;
4. Complete quarantine for at least 5 days from the onset of the rash;
5. To ease your cough, use a humidifier;
6. When the nose is stuffy, use drops of saline solution, and then try to suck out the mucus with a bulb or nozzle suction device. So a stuffy nose will not allow your baby to eat milk and drink water.
7. Closely monitor all manifestations and inform your doctor in order to avoid complications.

Methods protection babies from measles infections

What to do? After all, vaccination is contraindicated for a baby under six months of age, and the likelihood of becoming infected is quite high, especially during an epidemic.

• First, if there was contact with a patient with measles (but no later than 7 days after the interaction);
• There are scientifically proven studies that an increased content of vitamin A in the body significantly reduces the development of side effects in measles syndrome (infants up to 6 months are given it in a dosage of 50,000 IU per day for two days, and from 6 to -11 months 100,000 IU) ;
• Avoid large crowds of people during a measles outbreak: supermarkets, children's centers, clinics;
• It is mandatory to get vaccinated at 12 months, even if your baby had it at 6 months.

conclusions

Based on the above, the following conclusions can be drawn:

1. Children under one year of age are the most dangerous category who can become infected with measles;
2. Breastfeeding does not always provide specific immunity to a child from measles infection;
3. There is no magic pill for measles;
4. If there was contact with the patient, then immunoglobulin is administered;
5. Vitamin A is an excellent measles preventative;
6. Pay attention to the manifestations of the disease and inform your doctor if anything bothers you.

Measles is an infectious disease that is transmitted by airborne droplets. A child who has not been vaccinated will get sick with a 100% probability if he comes into contact with an infected person. Such a percentage of susceptibility is not observed in almost any other diseases.

Measles in children occurs in an acute form, especially between the ages of 2 and 5 years. The disease virus enters the body through the respiratory tract and then spreads through the bloodstream. With this disease, the mucous membranes of the eyes, oral cavity and respiratory organs are mainly affected, a characteristic rash, conjunctivitis appears, and the temperature rises.

Causes of measles

The cause of the spread of infection is always the sick person. The virus enters the air through droplets of saliva released when coughing, sneezing or talking, and then “moves” into the respiratory tract of a nearby child. The patient is considered contagious during the last two days of the incubation period of the virus and up to the 4th day of the rash.

Measles is extremely rare in children under one year of age, because they still have little contact with the outside world and strangers. In addition, newborns are protected by maternal antibodies. In infants, the disease may not proceed quite normally and may be characterized by the following symptoms: lack of fever, slight runny nose, slight redness in the mouth.

At the same time, infants in the first year of life may experience complications that are more severe than measles itself and primarily affect the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

Children who have recovered from the disease remain immune to the disease until the end of their lives. If the mother has had measles in the past, the child will be resistant to the disease until the age of 3 months. It is this period of time that maternal antibodies are contained in the child’s blood. Also, after vaccinations, immunity develops and the child will be protected from measles.

Symptoms and stages of the disease

Symptoms of measles: 1 and 4 - rash; 2 - Belsky-Filatov-Koplik symptom; 3 - enanthema in the prodromal period

Measles is an insidious disease that develops in stages. In the first days, the disease may not manifest itself at all, the children remain cheerful and playful. The virus spreading throughout the child’s body is still completely invisible to the sensitive eyes of parents. This is the insidiousness of the very first period of the disease, and there are four of them in total.

1. Incubation period

This is the time period that begins at the moment of infection and continues until the first signs of the disease appear. It is generally accepted that this period in children is 7-14 days. At this stage, the virus multiplies “quietly” in the body, there are no symptoms of measles, and the child is not bothered by anything at all. In this case, the baby becomes infectious to others only in the last 5 days of the incubation period.

2. Catarrhal period

During this period, the child develops symptoms that strongly resemble a cold:

• general malaise, weakness, lack of appetite;
• increase in body temperature up to 40°C;
• headache;
• dry cough;
• runny nose and hoarse voice;
• increased lacrimation, swelling and redness of the eyelids, conjunctivitis (drops and ointments for conjunctivitis);
• abdominal pain and loose stools;
• runny nose with purulent mucous discharge from the nose;
• lacrimation, photophobia;
• Infants may experience a decrease in body weight.

Documentary

The catarrhal period of the disease lasts no more than four days, during which all the symptoms of measles gradually turn into more severe forms. At the moment when all manifestations reach their highest levels, a rash begins to appear.

3. Period of rash

As already noted, the rash appears at the peak of all signs of the disease. Spots of a dark red hue appear primarily on the head. Gradually growing and merging with each other, they form large foci of rashes. It is for this reason that the child’s face swells, and the lips become dry and often crack.

On the second day of this period, the rash begins to appear on the arms and upper torso. The third day is characterized by the appearance of rashes all over the child’s body. The duration of the entire period is 4 days.

The period of rash is characterized by a decrease in body temperature, weakening of the cough and the appearance of appetite. The child becomes mobile and active. About a week after the onset of the rash, catarrhal symptoms disappear completely.

4. Pigmentation stage

The rash leaves behind pigment spots, the appearance of which occurs in the same sequence: first on the face, then throughout the body. These spots gradually begin to peel off and eventually disappear completely.

At the pigmentation stage, the child’s condition gradually returns to normal, sleep and appetite are completely restored, and body temperature does not exceed normal values.

Non-standard forms of measles

If a child gets measles, you will not always be able to notice the development of this disease. Measles may not occur as usual, but in a different form. Such forms of the disease are usually called atypical.

Mitigated form

Children who have been in contact with an infected child receive immunoglobulin for prevention. In such children, the overall picture of the disease becomes blurred:

• the incubation period lasts 21 days;
• in the catarrhal period there is a slight cough and runny nose;
• all periods of the disease, except incubation, are reduced;
• the rashes are not abundant and appear without observing stages;
• there are no characteristic spots on the cheeks;
• pigmentation is less dark.

Abortion measles

With such an atypical form, all signs of the disease appear according to the standard pattern. But after about 2-3 days, all symptoms of the disease suddenly disappear. The rash concentrates on the face and upper torso.

Erased form

This form of measles is very similar to mitigated measles. Here, catarrhal signs of the disease are also insignificant. However, unlike the mitigated form, the erased form is characterized by the absence of a rash. This factor greatly impedes making a correct diagnosis.

Reminder - Beware Measles!

Diagnosis of the disease

It is often difficult or even impossible to recognize a disease only by external manifestations. This is especially true for atypical forms of the disease. In addition, the first signs of measles strongly resemble a cold, which can mislead anyone.

To make a reliable diagnosis, your child must be sent for the following types of laboratory tests:

• general blood analysis;
• general urine analysis;
• serology (detection of antibodies to the measles virus in the blood);
• detection of measles virus in the blood.

Additionally, the child may be referred for a chest x-ray, and if there are complications from the nervous system, for electroencephalography.

In most cases, with the standard development of the disease, making a diagnosis does not cause difficulties and laboratory tests are simply unnecessary.

Treatment

There are no special treatments for measles; the body will cope with the infection on its own. Treatment here is symptomatic, which will alleviate the general condition of the sick child:

• antipyretic drugs for elevated body temperature;
• cough medicines depending on its type (different medicines are used for wet and dry);
• remedies for runny nose and sore throat;
• drink plenty of fluids and stay in bed.

During illness, it is also important to provide the child with the necessary vitamin complexes to maintain immunity, and to lubricate chapped lips with Vaseline.

Symptomatic treatment is carried out at home under the supervision of a pediatrician. The child is admitted to the hospital department if complications begin to develop. If there are complications, therapy is supplemented with antibacterial drugs.

Complications of the disease

Complications usually develop in children under 5 years of age or in adults over 20. The most common of them:

• otitis;
• laryngitis;
• stomatitis;
• encephalitis;
• inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck;
• bronchopneumonia.

Complications that occur in young children can hardly be called a rare occurrence. That is why the baby needs to be treated under the strict supervision of a local pediatrician. Ideally, the doctor will visit your child at least once every three days.

Why do such consequences occur? Everything is very simple. The measles virus can suppress the immunity of a small patient, and this is an excellent circumstance for the bacteria surrounding the child. They are provided with “free entry” into the baby’s body, and they are not slow to take advantage of this. Depending on the type of bacteria that enters the child’s body, not only the complications listed above may occur. It is quite possible that there may be upset stool, conjunctivitis, and even problems with the central nervous system.

The baby’s immunity decreases at the rash stage and may not recover earlier than in a month. Therefore, during treatment, it is important to follow basic hygiene procedures, and continue to see a doctor even after recovery.

Prevention

The first step in preventing the disease is limiting contact with sick children. A child with signs of this infection should be isolated from other (not sick) children for the entire period when he is contagious. The patient's room should be regularly ventilated, and wet cleaning is also necessary.

Children who have been in contact with the patient are given a special immunoglobulin in the first 5 days after contact, which helps them not get sick. This measure is taken in relation to children who have not previously been vaccinated.

It is important to know! Immunoglobulin is administered only to children with weakened immune systems and under the age of three years.

But the most reliable assistant in preventing measles is vaccination.

Video: how to protect yourself and children from measles

Graft

We have already said that the vaccine is the most effective method in preventing measles. Vaccination is an artificial infection with a virus. But its concentration is so low that the child’s body copes with the infection on its own and at the same time produces protective antibodies.

After vaccination it is possible:

• slight increase in temperature;
• the appearance of conjunctivitis;
• small rash on the body.

All this is completely safe and goes away in 2-3 days.

Note! The vaccine is contraindicated in children with weakened immune systems and those with blood or heart diseases. The vaccine is live measles bacteria. A child can be vaccinated only if there are no contraindications.

The first vaccination is carried out in children at the age of one year, revaccination - at 6 years. Then you can hope for a long-term effect, providing your child with protection from the virus for 15 years. Look vaccination calendar

Measles is not a pleasant disease. In addition, in young children it is often complicated by other unpleasant diseases that can cause much more harm than measles itself. At the same time, children who have had this disease once acquire lifelong immunity.

Measles vaccination is a reliable method of preventing the disease, but it is not a panacea. Before agreeing to vaccination, you must make sure that the child has strong immunity and there are no other contraindications.

We also read:

• Jaundice of newborns
• Common skin diseases in children
• Other common childhood illnesses

When a baby develops measles, parents do not suspect it, since the incubation period of the disease is asymptomatic and lasts from 9 to 21 days. At this time, the baby feels well, but from the fifth day of infection it is considered infectious to others. The main cause of this infection is considered to be the lack of vaccination of the child.

Determining the symptoms of measles in infants at home

The first manifestations of measles in infants occur after the incubation period has expired. You can easily identify them at home using our photos. First of all, the baby experiences an increase in body temperature to peak levels, and a characteristic rash appears, which is initially localized on the head, and after a few days spreads lower down the body.

Note to moms! The measles virus in infants, entering the body, spreads through the bloodstream, so this disease may not manifest itself for a long time. Therefore, it is impossible to start quickly relieving symptoms.

Depending on the period, measles in infants is usually divided into several stages:

• incubation, which occurs without any symptoms. The child feels well, there is no increase in temperature;
• Catarrhal is characterized by the appearance of the first rash on the child’s skin. At this time, the baby begins to have an increase in body temperature, difficulty breathing, hoarseness, and a barking cough. All this is reminiscent of a cold or flu;

  Depending on the degree of rash, measles in infants is divided into three types

• The period of rash is characterized by the appearance of a rash in the form of semolina on the tonsils, palate and the inside of the baby’s cheeks. There is a general inflammation of the throat and redness of the mouth. Next, a rash appears on the head and after a few days begins to spread throughout the body, last of all affecting the legs.

Be sure to watch the video from Komarovsky, what he thinks about measles in infants.

You can study the signs of measles in a baby in more detail using the photo below. The nature of such rashes is quite difficult to confuse with other infections.

Important! If a baby develops measles, try not to look for the source of the disease (you will only waste time). They can be anyone, not necessarily a close or relative. The baby could have caught the virus in a store or other public place, since the disease is transmitted by airborne droplets.

Treatment of measles in infants: hospital or home?

Therapeutic therapy for measles in infants can be carried out both in the clinic and at home. It all depends on the severity of the disease. If doctors see the risks of complications and danger to the baby’s life, they must admit him to the hospital and conduct constant monitoring.

Children say! My son (4 years old) and my husband are walking through the market. We bought bags full of groceries. We are already approaching the exit. I turn to my husband:
- Before you leave, remember, we don’t need anything else?

And then my child shouts to the whole market: - Buy money!!! There is no money at home!

Vaccinations are given to prevent measles in infants.

Before starting treatment, measles is diagnosed in an infant based on the main symptoms, as well as by collecting blood and urine tests. Serology is also performed - it determines the presence of antibodies to the measles virus in the baby. If a complicated form of the disease is suspected, the child is prescribed an x-ray and a brain examination.

Treatment is mainly symptomatic, and the body fights the infection on its own; parents just need to help the baby cope with measles and alleviate the painful condition using the following methods:

• give the baby antipyretics;
• cough syrups as recommended by your doctor;
• medicines for the common cold;
• throat sprays;
• Do not forget about drinking plenty of fluids and bed rest.

Note to moms! If your baby has conjunctivitis, perform proper eye hygiene, and if your lips are cracked and dry, you should lubricate them with Vaseline or special baby moisturizers.

Consequences of measles in children under one year of age

Symptoms of measles in infants first appear as a rash on the face

It is very likely that complications will develop due to improper treatment or advanced forms of measles in infants. The consequences are:

• otitis;
• laryngitis;
• laryngotracheitis;
• pneumonia, bronchitis;
• encephalitis;
• high mortality rate.

The risk of developing complications arises because the measles virus can negatively affect the function of the baby’s immune system. Therefore, the baby should be visited by a pediatrician during illness at least three times a week if the baby is being treated at home.

Children say! The grandson, having had lunch, fell asleep right in the high chair. The daughter unfolded the back of the chair, giving it a reclining position.
“Nastya, it’s better to take her to the crib,” I say. - Look how he lies crookedly, he’s uncomfortable!

Based on these risks, doctors are calling for newborns to be vaccinated against measles in order to develop immunity to the insidious disease.

A video about the treatment and daily routine of infants with measles will be useful.