Measles

Question 1

Where are measles cases most prominent?

Answer 1

overcrowded, insanitary conditions

Question 2

Who does measles mainly infect?

Answer 2

malnourished infants suffering from Vitamin A deficiency

Question 3

What are most measles outbreak in developed countries caused by?

Answer 3

someone entering the country with measles that they caught elsewhere

Question 4

What is the causative agent of Measles?

Answer 4

Measles Virus

Genus: Morbillivirus

Question 5

Describe how the virus causes Measles.

Answer 5

Measles virus enter the body and multiplies inside cells in the upper respiratory tract (nasal cavity & trachea)

Question 6

What is the mode of transmission of Measles?

Answer 6

Airborne

*measles is highly contagious, usually inevitably caught by uninfected people when it is inhaled

Question 7

Why do infants under 8 months old typically not get affected by Measles?

Answer 7

they have passive immunity in the form of antibodies that have crossed the placenta from their mother

Question 8

Symptoms of measles

Answer 8

• fever
• sore eyes
• runny nose
• small white spots in mouth
• harsh dry cough
• fatigue
• pain / aches

Question 9

Diagnosis methods of measles

Answer 9

serology - finding measles-specific IgM

Question 10

Treatment for measles

Answer 10

• no specific medicines

- treatment involves bed rest and taking medicines to lower the fever

Question 11

Prevention methods of measles

Answer 11

• quarantining of infected person for at least 4 days after the onset of rash
• immunisation:
  ▪️measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) combination vaccine
  ▪️measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) combination vaccine