Measles is an infectious disease that is often experienced by infants and children. Therefore, parents need to be aware of the symptoms and causes of measles so they can be treated as soon as possible.
Measles is triggered by a paramyxovirus through the air or direct contact. What are the symptoms and causes of measles? Here’s more information.
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Causes of Measles
Measles is caused by transmission of the paramyxovirus virus, which starts when a person inhales the saliva splashes of a person with measles. In addition, the measles virus lives and sticks to objects, so that if someone holds objects contaminated with the virus, they run the risk of contracting measles.
Improper handling of measles will become an endemic disease that is at risk of death, especially for malnourished children. Although it often affects children, adults can also experience measles if they were not previously infected with the measles virus or had not been vaccinated against measles.
Measles Risk Factors
Vaccination against measles is an effective prevention measure. If not vaccinated, the baby is at risk of getting measles and serious complications, even death. Quoted from Healthy Children, There are a number of risk factors for measles in infants, namely:
- Infants under 12 months of age who are not vaccinated against measles.
- Babies who are not exclusively breastfed.
- Babies living in crowded or crowded environments.
- Babies who are deficient in vitamin A.
In addition, there are a number of risk factors for measles in infants and other children, namely:
- Visit a developing country. Cases of measles are usually found in developing countries. Therefore, infants or children who travel to these countries are at risk of contracting measles.
Keep in mind, transmission of the measles virus is also influenced by a person’s immune system or has not been vaccinated against measles. Cases of measles do exist in a number of countries, but most cases of measles occur in developing countries, especially parts of Asia and Africa.
Symptoms of Measles to Watch Out for
A person who has measles will show symptoms about 7-14 days after being infected with the measles virus. Quoted from Mayo Clinic, Here are some common symptoms of measles that you need to know:
- Dry cough.
- Weak.
- Aches and pains.
- Throws up.
- Diarrhea.
- High fever.
- Reddish eyes.
- Have a cold.
- Light sensitivity of the eye.
- No appetite.
- Grayish white spots in mouth and throat.
- Red-brown rash on the head, neck, ears and spreads all over the body.
Treatment of Measles
To relieve the symptoms of measles in infants and children, you can apply self-care, namely:
- Monitor the child’s symptoms and condition.
- Clean your child’s hands regularly.
- Make sure the child’s body fluids are sufficient by drinking plenty of water.
- Make sure the child gets enough rest and keep it away from sunlight as long as their eyes are sensitive to light.
- Give painkillers and fever-reducing drugs, such as ibuprofen and paracetamol.
- Give children food with balanced nutrition to increase their body’s resistance, so they can ward off viral infections.
- Bathe the child. This aims to relieve itching due to skin rashes. Use bath soap with safe ingredients, so it doesn’t irritate the skin and dry the body using a soft cloth, then apply anti-itch powder to the body.
