Measles!
By Marcos Otero
It amazes me that we can still today, when diseases such as measles. If you follow the news, you know that measles has broken out in California and 14 other States. There have been 100 cases until early February. This is incredible, since a vaccine is available for the same.
Measles is a very contagious viral childhood disease. Of every 100 people immunized less than 1% will catch the disease. Compare this with every 100 90% not immunized will get the disease. Measles can be severe and even fatal for children under 5 years of age. The signs and symptoms of measles are 10 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. The signs and symptoms of measles are usually fever, dry cough, runny nose, sore throat, conjunctivitis, and skin rash consisting of large, flat spots that often flow into each other and begin in the face and down towards the body. The measles complications include ear infection, bronchitis, laryngitis or croup, pneumonia, and encephalitis. Pneumonia is a common complication of measles. People with compromised immune systems can develop a hazardous variety of pneumonia that sometimes is fatal. About 1 in 1,000 people with measles develop encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that can cause vomiting, seizures, and, rarely, coma or even death. It is contagious from four days before the eruption until four days later. Since it is so contagious, they would have to be isolated for 21 days from the child and anyone who has had contact with the infected. That includes to companions of class, friends, parents, and family. That’s why is so important to immunize their children vaccines significantly reduced infant mortality. Vaccines for children include hepatitis B, rotavirus, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hemophilia influenza, pneumococcal, polio, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella. Following the recommended schedule, all these vaccines can be completed by the time the child has completed 4 years. Prevention is the key to healthy children. If we ensure that children are immunized, we reduce the possible complications of all these diseases and help to settle them.
