Measles
The scientific name is rubeola.
The disease is caused by a virus called a paramyxovirus.
Genus: Morbillivirus.
Group: Group V
Order: Mononegavirales
Family: Paramyxoviridae
Species: Measles virus
To become infected with the virus you have to be in contact with fluids from an infected person. For example through nose and mouth. Either directly or through aerosol transmission. (Aerosol = tiny particles of solid or liquid suspended in gas.)
Cells infected:
The epithelial cells. And it replicates in the urinary tract, lymphatic system, conjunctivae, blood vessels and the central nervous system.
Symptoms of measles are fever (for at least 3 days) cough, coryza (runny nose) and conjunctivitis (red eyes). Also koplik’s spots can sometimes be found inside the mouth. There is a characteristic rash that begins days after the fever starts. It starts on the head then spreades to cover most of the body and it often causes itches.
Treatments:
There are no specific treatments for measles. The best treatment is bed rest. If there are eye secretions you can remove these with warm saline or water. To prevent the itching you can use antipruritic medication.
Vaccines:
2 doses of live measles vaccine are recommended at the ages of 15 months and in 1st grade.
How to avoid transmission:
- Avoid being around sick people.
- Cover your mouth while coughing
- Throw away used tissues
- Wash your hands
- Avoid touching public things.
How does the body defend itself?
The body defends itself by producing the fever, which cools down the body. The high temperature helps destroy viruses. White blood cells are another defence mechanism. They fight off viruses. White blood cells also produce antibodies so that when the antigen enters the body another rime, it’s recognized and will be fought off at once.
5 interesting facts:
- Only 1 out of 8 people die
- It’s highly contagious: 90% of people without immunity who live with an infected person will catch it.
- There are reports of measles that go back to 600 before Christ.
- The first scientific description was in from a Persian physician Ibn Razi (860-932)
- Licensed vaccines, which prevent the disease became available in 1963.
by Sarah Torkornoo =)
Measles Virus
Virus name:
Morbillivirus (Measles) virus
Disease or disorder caused by the virus:
- Total body skin rash ad flue like symptoms, including a fever, cough, and runny nose.
Description of virus structure:
- Measles virus had a spherical shape. Fusion proteins and attachment proteins appear as spikes on the surface.
How is the virus transmitted?
- When someone with measles sneezes or coughs, he or she can spread virus droplets through the air and infect other.
- Having contact with fluids form an infected nose and mouth, either directly or through aerosol transmission, through respiration.
How can transmission be prevented?
- transmission can be prevented by isolating the infected person
- Keeping a safe distance away from infected person and never share the same utensils with them.
Describe the type of body cells attacked.
- The virus infects the epithelial cells of its new host, and may also replicate in the urinary tract, lymphatic system, conjunctivae, blood vessels, and central nervous system.
What are the symptoms of infection?
- The first symptoms of the infection are usually a hacking cough, runny nose, high fever, and watery red eyes.
- Koplik’s spots, small red spots with blue-white centers that appear inside the mouth.
- Appearance of reddish brown blotchy measles rash, usually shows up on the forehead, and then spreads downward over the face, neck and body, then down to the feet.
How does the body defend itself?
- The body produces white blood cells, which create heat (fever), a cough, to expel any virus in the lungs, and, eventually a rash. Your skin is the largest of the detoxification organs. If you were to put the pus from the rash under the microscope you would see the measles virus. The measles is being removed through the skin. The body has now built up antibodies against the measles virus and has obtained lifelong immunity.
Are there any treatments or vaccines?
There is no cure for measles, but there are some things (listed below) to make the course of the disease more tolerable.
Ø Drink plenty of water
Ø A humidifier or vaporizer may ease the cough
Ø Provide sponge baths with lukewarm water to the face and upper body
Ø Rest in bed if it makes you more comfortable
Available vaccines for measles are:
Ø MMR (Measles –Mumps-Rubella)
Ø MMRV (Measles –Mumps-Rubella -Varicella Virus Vaccine Live)
Ø Monovalent Measles
Five interesting facts:
Ø Measles virus is also known as Rubeola, hand measles, red measles.
Ø The symptoms usually appear in 10~12days.
Ø An individual is able to transmit measles from four days prior to and after rash onset.
Ø More than 400,000 children died from measles every year.
Ø Measles virus is an enveloped, nonsegmented negative-stranded RNA virus of the Paramyxoviridae family.
By: Kevin Hung
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