Measles Flashcards
Causative organism?
RNA paramyxovirus
How is it spread?
Droplets
Infective period?
Infective from prodrome until 4 days after rash starts
Incubation period?
10-14 days
Symptoms?
- Prodrome: irritable, conjunctivitis, fever
- Koplik spots (before rash): white spots (‘grains of salt’) on buccal mucosa
- Rash which starts behind ears then to whole body, discrete maculopapular rash becoming blotchy and confluent
- diarrhoea occurs in around 10% of patients
What is seen on the buccal mucosa and when in comparison with the rash?
Koplik spots which appear before the rash
How does the rash move?
starts behind ears then to whole body, discrete maculopapular rash becoming blotchy and confluent
Diagnosis?
IgM antibodies can be detected within a few days of rash onset
Management? Who may need to be admitted?
Mainly supportive. Immunosuppressed or pregnant patients may need admission.
Who should be informed on diagnosis of this condition?
Public Health as it is a notifiable disease
Most common complication?
Otitis media
Most common cause of death?
Pneumonia
Other complications?
- Otitis media
- Pneumonia
- Encephalitis
- Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: very rare, may present 5-10 years following the illness. It’s a form of chronic progressive brain inflammation.
- Febrile convulsions
- Keratoconjunctivitis, corneal ulceration
- Diarrhoea
- Increased incidence of appendicitis
- Myocarditis
What if a child who isn’t immunised against measles encounters measles?
MMR vaccine should be offered as vaccine induced measles antibody develops more rapidly than that following infection. Should be given within 72 hours.
