Symptoms of measles in children

Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
Updated on August 31, 2024
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Common symptoms of measles in children generally start with a fever. Usually, the onset of measles begins with a fever, followed by catarrhal symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, and excessive tearing, which occur three to five days later. If a rash appears, it usually starts behind the ears and around the hairline with red spots and gradually spreads to the face, torso, and eventually to the entire body including the limbs, as well as the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. Additionally, measles can cause spots on the mucous membranes in the mouth and is prone to complications like pneumonia. These are some of the common symptoms of measles. If measles is complicated by pneumonia or severe pneumonia, it is important to take it seriously.

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How to prevent measles

Measles is a disease caused by infection with the measles virus, mainly infecting people with weaker resistance, the elderly, or those with certain underlying diseases. For the prevention of measles, it is recommended to first avoid contact with infected patients. Furthermore, it is important to protect susceptible populations, especially women, children, and the elderly with low immunity. Finally, one can regularly take some heat-clearing and detoxifying decoctions or medicines to prevent measles.

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What is the difference between measles and leprosy?

Measles and leprosy are diseases with significant differences. Firstly, fundamentally, measles is caused by the measles virus, while leprosy is caused by the leprosy bacillus. Secondly, in terms of the disease course, measles is an acute infectious disease with a rapid onset, whereas leprosy is a chronic infectious disease with a slow onset and disease progression. Lastly, in terms of treatment, measles is mainly treated with antiviral symptomatic therapy, while leprosy is treated with antibiotics and other drugs.

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What to do with measles in children?

Measles in children is a disease caused by a viral infection that leads to fever and rash. It is prone to complications such as pneumonia, as well as myocarditis, encephalitis, etc., so it is crucial to take measles seriously and seek medical attention promptly. Initially, antivirals can be administered, along with treatments to reduce heat and fever. If complications like pneumonia, myocarditis, or encephalitis occur, timely appropriate treatments should also be given. Furthermore, when a child contracts measles, it is important to avoid going out since it is an infectious disease that can easily spread to other children, thus outings should be temporarily avoided. During the rash phase, nursing care should be intensified, body temperature should be monitored, and attention should be paid to the child’s breathing, mental response, and other conditions. The diet should be light, allowing the child to eat more fruits and vegetables, and ensuring frequent changing of clothes and maintaining skin cleanliness and hygiene.

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What should I do about baby measles?

The main treatments for measles in infants include symptomatic treatment, enhanced care, and prevention of complications. Children with measles should rest in bed, maintain a suitable indoor temperature and air circulation, avoid strong light exposure, and ensure cleanliness of the skin, eyes, and mouth. Encourage them to drink plenty of water and provide easily digestible, nutritionally rich food. For fever, a small dose of antipyretic can be used as appropriate, but rapid fever reduction should be avoided, especially during the initial diagnosis period. Cough may be treated with nebulization and cough suppressants. It is necessary to supplement vitamins. Appropriate treatments should be given for complications, and antibiotics should be provided for secondary infections.

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Is measles easy to treat?

Measles is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by the measles virus. The main symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, oral measles mucosal spots, and skin maculopapular rashes. Simple measles is easy to treat with a good prognosis. However, individuals in poor general condition or with low immunity may develop a severe form of measles with a higher mortality rate. There is no specific antiviral treatment for measles; treatment is mainly supportive and symptomatic. For high fever, small doses of antipyretics or physical cooling measures should be used, but the body's temperature should not be reduced to normal as this can delay the appearance of the rash and prolong the illness. Cough suppressants and expectorants can be used for coughing. For weak or severely ill children, early injection of immunoglobulin is recommended, followed by the prevention and treatment of complications such as laryngitis, pneumonia, myocarditis, and encephalitis.