measles and rubeola virus30

Measles is an acute highly infectious disease of children and no immune adults.

The virus has only one stable antigenic type.

Pathogenesis and clinical findings
-Man is the olny natural host for the virus

- Transmission is by aerosol

- Incubation period is 8-12 days.

- The virus replicates locally in the mucosa and regional lymph nodes of the upper repiratory tract followed by viraemia and localization of virus in and mucous membranes.

- After a prodrome of 2-4 days, a viraemic phase starts that manifests bu high fever, sneezing, coughing, eye pains and as "Koplik's spots" on the inside of the cheeks. The eruptivepase follows and is characterized by maculopapular pink skin rash mainly on the trunk region.

-Complication may occur in debilitated children as penumonia, otitis media, and post-measles encephalitis.

Treatment

-No specific antiviral drug is effective.
-Early administration of human globulins may be effective in modifying the disease.
-Bacterial superinfections are to be treated by antibiotics.

Prophylaxis
Active immunization by a living attenuated vaccine. It is usually available in combination with mumps and rubella (MMR). It is better given in two doses,the first at 15 months and the second at school age.

Passive Immunization: Human globulins are given to protect susceptible contacts.

Immunity: Life-long immunity is gained after a single infection. This is due to :
-Measles virus is of only one stable antigenic type.
-There is a stage of viraemia, so circulating antibodies are protective.