Measles: Symptoms and Symptoms

Measles, the symptoms of which are not immediately apparent - a fairly contagious disease. It is one of the most common infectious childhood diseases. Both adults and children have measles. Due to the high probability of susceptibility, almost all have time to get measles back in childhood.

Causes of measles

The smallest viral microorganisms cause measles disease. The virus of this disease is very volatile, it spreads rather quickly in air currents. It is transmitted to the healthy from the patient through the air during conversation, coughing, sneezing of the patient; Through narrow slots of doors, windows, open windows, keyholes.

There is a measles virus in the respiratory tract, in the patient's blood, on the mucous membranes of the mouth during the first 5 days of illness. On such days and a couple of days before the appearance of any signs a person (a sick person) is contagious to those around him who have not yet suffered measles.

Many parents believe that measles is an easy disease. But this, in fact, is a great misconception. For children under 3-4 years old, for those who are often ill, weakened toddlers are a little older, it is too dangerous a disease. They have measles with rather serious complications: inflammation of the larynx, lungs, large intestine. Measles can lead to an outbreak of a sharp tuberculosis process; In children, that recently suffered from dysentery - to its aggravation.

Measles in children: symptoms and treatment

Symptoms of measles in children often do not appear immediately. It first develops secretly, while not manifesting at least some deviations from the norm. This "hidden period" can last from 8 to 20 days. The picture of measles disease usually develops gradually.

Measles. Symptoms in older children.

At first the child becomes too capricious, stops paying attention to toys, then sneezes, a dry cough, a runny nose, fever, eyes blush. This period is called catarrhal. In fact, measles is unlike influenza less than. Only a doctor can detect other signs that are characteristic only of measles. These are some changes from the mucous membranes, eyes, mouth: children blink eyes, rub their hands, it pains them to look directly at the light. Less often eyelashes stick together from large clots of dried pus, the baby can not open its eyes until they are well washed. When a doctor examines the patient's oral cavity on parts of the mucous membranes of the lips, cheeks, you can find red spots that are covered with white small dots.

Somewhere on the third day of this catarrhal period, the temperature decreases, but the signs of measles still do not disappear, but, quite the contrary, they build up - at this time there is a rash. At the stage of its appearance, the temperature usually rises to 39 ° C, and often (in very severe cases) reaches up to 40 ° C. Such patients sleep much - 15-20 hours a day. In the beginning, the rash covers the neck, face. She - bright pink spots rising over the skin of various sizes. On the 2nd day it spreads to the back, stomach, chest, on the third day - to the feet, hands. A bright rash lasts up to 3 days, then it starts to turn pale, becomes brownish or brown, and the spots no longer rise above the skin. Gradually, the rhinitis decreases, cough becomes less common, it is not as painful as at first. Do not hurt your eyes. On the 4th day from the moment the rash appeared, the temperature comes to the normal rate, the child becomes cheerful, talkative, and has an appetite. Thus, measles in older children.

Measles. Symptoms in young children.

In children under the age of 1 year, and also at an older age, weaker measles have a slightly different course. The signs of the disease themselves are rather weakly expressed. Eyelids do not swell at all, they do not hurt to look at the light, any changes from the mucous membranes may be absent altogether. But, unfortunately, measles in these children is quite difficult, with early uneasy complications from the ears or lungs. The small and slightly weak children often have complications from the lungs, ears, larynx, intestines.

The most frequent, severe complications in measles - pneumonia. Measles, the symptoms of which may not manifest themselves, can result in pneumonia in small, weakened children, and in children with rickets, can even lead to death. And it happens that pneumonia with measles take a chronic form.

Grafted babies, of course, can get measles, but it goes much easier with them.