Measles epidemic: relevance, danger, protection

The measles epidemic is one of the pressing issues that doctors are concerned about this summer. Due to the general failure of the population to vaccinate children, long-defeated diseases such as polio and smallpox began to return. In the number of such fell and measles.

Measles epidemic in Europe

The outbreak in Europe began last year. The first cases were registered on the territory of Romania, and then no one began to make noise, although the report of the European Center for Disease Control was rather intimidating and foreshadowed an unpleasant trend in the future.

In 2017, Romania ranks first in terms of the number of cases, in which (according to the report) almost five thousand people were infected in two years and there are already twenty-three victims of the disease.

The measles epidemic in Europe has spread to Italy, where since January this year, 1,739 cases have been documented. The majority of patients are children and adolescents who have never been vaccinated against measles. Another one and a half hundred patients are medical personnel who took care of the infected. In the "guidebook of the virus" countries such as France, Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic and others. The disease continues to spread.

Outbreak in Russia

The measles epidemic in Russia officially began only in 2017. In the first quarter, the incidence rate increased three-fold. Forty-three cases of the disease have already been registered, half of which are children.

The majority of patients are located in Dagestan, the second place is occupied by Moscow and the Moscow region, then by the Rostov and Sverdlovsk regions, and also by North Ossetia. Here there were the most massive outbreaks of morbidity. In the remaining regions, only one case of measles has so far occurred. The World Health Organization reports that all cases of infection were in unvaccinated adults and children.

Symptoms, complications and transmission routes

The measles epidemic begins imperceptibly, since the incubation period of the disease is about two weeks. This complicates the search for contact persons and their setting for dispensary observation.

After 10-12 days after infection, the temperature rises (to febrile figures - 38-39 degrees) in patients, the rhinitis, cough, conjunctivitis begins. Parents tend to believe that the child has the flu or ARI, and no one can guess to look at the mucous membrane of the mouth. It is there that the spots are characteristic for the measles - Belsky-Filatova-Koplika - they are white and are on the inner surface of the cheek (opposite the upper teeth) or on the palate.

After three to five days, a rash begins to appear on the baby's skin. It is small, red, located on the unchanged background of the skin. It begins to pour out from the face and neck, and gradually the rash moves down. On average, rashes last from five to seven days. Then they pass without leaving a trace.

The most common complications of the disease develop in young children and adults. Among them prevail:
- Inflammation of meninges and brain substance;
- sudden blindness;
- Dehydration and stool disorder;
- Viral pneumonia.

The measles virus is transmitted by airborne droplets or through close physical contact. The patient is infectious 4 days before the appearance of rashes and 4 more days after the last spots disappear.

Treatment of measles

The measles epidemic has spread so much because there is no specific treatment for this disease. Experts recommend using a lot of liquid, avoid insolation and bright artificial light. The remaining appointments of doctors depend on the prevailing symptoms and existing complications.

Adults to prevent disease and its complications are recommended to take large doses of vitamin A. For children, vaccination is the best remedy for the disease! According to the vaccination calendar, immunization is carried out in two stages:
- the first dose in 12 months;
- the second dose - in 6 years.

Vaccination against measles

The measles epidemic might not have happened if the parents were responsible and did not refuse vaccinations given to children by the state. Yes, now there are a lot of alternative opinions about the quality and benefits of immunizing the population, but do not forget that many viral diseases managed to be won solely through vaccination.

There are several contraindications to vaccination:

- the presence of an allergy to whey and vaccine in the past;
- Acute inflammation, which is accompanied by a rise in temperature above 38.5;
- decreased immunity, autoimmune disease, use of corticosteroids or cytostatics;
- epilepsy (concerns only pertussis vaccine);
- Pregnancy.

Before the vaccination, tell the doctor how long the child has been sick for the last time, if he has any allergies to medicines, food or vaccines, how the previous immunization went. It is important to draw the attention of the doctor to the presence of chronic diseases in the child, for example, diabetes or bronchial asthma.

Has the measles epidemic in Europe? The answer, of course, is not. And this is already beginning to inspire fears for healthcare workers. In the near future, some significant measures should be taken to prevent the spread of the disease.