Measles Signs and Symptoms - Symptoms typically appear 10-14 days after exposure - Classic symptoms include a four-day fever and the three Cs (cough, coryza, conjunctivitis) - Fever can reach up to 40°C (104°F) - Kopliks spots, small white spots inside the mouth, are diagnostic for measles - Measles rash starts on the ears, spreads to the head and neck, and then covers the body

Measles Complications - Common complications include diarrhea, middle ear infection, and pneumonia - Measles can suppress the immune system, leading to bacterial superinfections - Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is a rare but lethal complication - Infants, adults over 20 years, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems are at high risk - Case fatality rate ranges from 0.3% to 28% depending on the region and healthcare quality

Measles Cause and Transmission - Measles is caused by the measles virus, a highly contagious RNA virus - The virus is spread through coughing, sneezing, and direct contact with secretions - Measles virus belongs to the Morbillivirus genus within the Paramyxoviridae family - Measles is an airborne disease that spreads easily through coughs and sneezes - Direct contact with mouth or nasal secretions can also transmit the virus - The disease is extremely contagious, with a high transmission rate - People are infectious to others from four days before to four days after the rash appears - Measles primarily affects developing areas of Africa and Asia

Measles Prevention and Impact - Measles vaccine is highly effective and safe - Vaccination has resulted in an 80% decrease in measles deaths between 2000 and 2017 - About 85% of children worldwide have received their first dose of the vaccine - Measles affects about 20 million people annually, causing significant morbidity and mortality - Global vaccination programs have reduced measles deaths from 2.6 million in 1980 to 73,000 in 2014

Measles Diagnosis, Laboratory Testing, and Treatment - Clinical diagnosis based on fever, malaise, cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis - Observation of Kopliks spots is diagnostic - Other conditions with similar symptoms include parvovirus, dengue fever, Kawasaki disease, and scarlet fever - Laboratory confirmation is recommended - Measles IgM antibodies or measles virus RNA can be detected for confirmation - Measles diagnosis can be done through measles IgM antibodies or measles virus RNA detection - Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay is used for RNA detection - Saliva can be collected for salivary measles-specific IgA testing - Salivary testing is not ideal due to the presence of other fluids and proteins - Saliva contains fewer antibodies than blood samples, making testing difficult - There is no specific antiviral treatment for measles - Medications aim to treat superinfections, maintain hydration, and provide pain relief - Vitamin A is given to young children and severely malnourished individuals to boost antibody responses and decrease complications - Supportive treatment includes ibuprofen or paracetamol for fever and pain relief - Vitamin A is recommended to decrease the risk of blindness, but does not prevent or cure the disease