Measles, also known as rubella is a common childhood disease. However there are times when complications arise. Be sure you know all of the important information about the measles virus to ensure your child heals without any adverse affects.
Measles, also known as rubella, is a common childhood disease. Most adults have had it and expect their children to have it at some time during their childhood. Since it is contagious it often strikes in epidemics. Though measles are not as dangerous today as they were a few decades ago, there are a few things you should know about this highly communicable disease.
Symptoms
Measles is well known for its skin rash, which appears as flat red dots that may or may not flow into one another. However, measles is more than just a rash. It is really an infection of the respiratory tract. The first signs of this childhood disease are a runny nose, hacking cough, red eyes, sensitivity to light, irritability and a fever that runs as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 40,6 Celsius.
When the rash appears the fever peaks. The rash first appears on the forehead and moves down over the face and neck until it eventually covers the child’s entire body. For the first 48 hours after the rash appears, the child may look or be severely ill. After about three days, the measles rash will appear on the feet. Once this happens, symptoms should begin to subside.
The measles rash may come together to completely cover the skin of the face, neck and shoulders. The rash disappears in the same sequence as it appears; forehead, neck, body and feet. The total length of time from when the rash first appears until it is gone is usually six to seven days. When the rash disappears, the child’s skin may have a brownish tinge, which will disappear as the skin naturally sheds.
Koplik’s Spots
One specific sign that identifies a case of measles is Koplik’s spots. You will see these irregular, small, red spots that have a bluish-white center inside your child’s mouth. They appear one or two days before the measles rash and are most often found by the child’s physician, who is looking for the cause of a cough or fever.
Measles can have a wide variety of complications if proper care isn’t taken. The child’s body becomes very susceptible to ear infections, pneumonia, and viral infections that are caused by bacteria. Adults who contact measles suffer severe symptoms and complications of the disease and often have to be hospitalized.