Measles and Rheumatic Fever Flashcards
What causes measles?
paramyxovirus
How does measles spread?
Aerosolised droplets; can stay in the air for up to TWO HOURS
**Makes it highly transmissible –> most infectious disease we know of
What is the incubation period of measles?
10-21 days
What are the main symptoms of Measles?
Cough
Coryza
Fever
Conjunctivitis
Koplik’s spots
(The 4 ‘C’s of measles
Morbilliform Rash
What are the complications of measles
Vitamin a Deficiency –> poor qualitiy of GI and respiratory mucosa –> increased risk of infections
Corneal Disease (from Vit A deficiency)
Diarrhoa
Sepsis
Post Measles immunosuppression
Encephalitis
- Subacute Sclerosisng Panencephalitis –> long term complication of measles that causes chronic brain damage from persistent CNS measles infection
Presents >7 years after initial infection
- Acute Demyelinating
- Inclusion body
**Secondary bacterial infection = greatest cause of death in measles
What is the R number of Measles?
12-18!!!!!
Is measles potentially a disease we could eradicate?
yes
no animal vector
no chronic infection (apart from chronic encephalitis)
effective vaccine
Describe the rash in measles
Usually occurs after a couple of days of cough, coryza, fever
Morbilliform
Face –> trunk –> limbs
How do you diagnose measles?
- Case definition (useful in an outbreak) –> only need a few confirmed lab cases before you can switch to case definition as a means of diagnosis
- IgM Antibodies (blood or saliva)
- RNA PCR
How do you manage measles?
- Supportive care
- Vitamin A Supplements
±antibiotics for concurrent bacterial illness
± fluid management in diarrhoeal illness
± topical chloramphenicol (eye)
What are the doses of Vitamin A supplementation in measles?
Vit A Capsules, 2 doses in 2 days
- <6 mo 50,000iu
- 6-12mo 100,000iu
- > 12mo 200,000iu
What are risk factors for Measles outbreaks?
Refugee camps
Areas of unpopulated populations
Immunocompromised people
Unvaccinated mothers anc children
How much of a population needs to be vaccinated to prevent an outbreak of measles?
95%
What is the case fatality rate of measles during epidemics?
Between 3-15%
What type of vaccine is measles? Can it be given to pregnant women?
Live attenuated vaccine
Cannot be given to pregnant women