A CLASS PRESENTATION OF NURSING SCIENCE STUDENTS OF

RHEMA UNIVERSITY

ON

MEASLES

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 INTRODUCTION

WHAT IS MEASLES?

Measles is also known as rubeola or red measles. It is a highly contagious respiratory infection
caused by a virus which causes rashes all over the body. Measles. Measles is a highly contagious
viral disease. Measles is transmitted via droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected
persons. Initial symptoms, which usually appear 10–12 days after infection, include high fever, a
runny nose, bloodshot eyes, and tiny white spots on the inside of the mouth.

CAUSES OF MEASLES

As discussed earlier, measles is caused by a virus. It is a contagious disease that spreads through
mucus and saliva. When the measles infected person sneezes or coughs, the virus is released into
the air. Measles virus could travel through the air. So anyone in that proximity might be infected
by that virus

 It is caused by the virus Rubeola

 The virus lives in the nose or throat of an infected person.
 The disease is highly contagious and the virus spreads through the mucus or saliva of the
infected person.
 The infected droplets spread into the air through sneezing and coughing and may fall on
surfaces; this can remain active for several hours.
 The risk factors include:
 Not vaccinated - Measles can be prevented by MMR vaccine. The protects from Measels,
mumps and rubella.
 Vitamin A deficiency

NURSING MANAGMENT

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Measles causes extreme pruritus; nursing interventions include
 Keeping the patient’s nails short,
 Encourage long pants and sleeves to prevent scratching,
 Keeping skin moist with health care provider recommended lotions, and avoiding
sunlight and heat.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Measles is caused by a paramyxovirus and is a human disease with no known animal reservoir
or asymptomatic carrier state. Measles is spread mainly by secretions from the nose, throat, and
mouth during the prodromal or early eruptive stage..

People also ask, what is the pathology of measles?

Measles virus is a highly contagious negative strand RNA virus that is transmitted via the
respiratory route and causes systemic disease in previously unexposed humans and non-human
primates. Measles is characterized by fever and skin rash and usually associated with cough,
coryza and conjunctivitis.

One may also ask, how is the measles virus spread? Measles is a highly contagious virus that
lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person. It can spread to others through
coughing and sneezing. Also, measles virus can live for up to two hours in an airspace where the
infected person coughed or sneezed.

Furthermore, how does the measles virus work?

Measles virus is spread from person to person through the air in coughed-out aerosolized
droplets that are inhaled. The infected B and T cells then migrate throughout the body
releasing virus particles into the blood. The spleen, lymph nodes, liver, thymus, skin, and lungs
are eventual destinations for the virus.

How does measles cause otitis media?

Otitis media is the most common complication of measles reported in the United States and
occurs in 14% of children <5 years old (table 2). Presumably, inflammation of the epithelial
surface of the eustachian tube causes obstruction and secondary bacterial infection

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Symptoms of Measles

Symptoms generally appear within 14 days of exposure to the virus. General symptoms of
measles are body rash but before that, there are a few more symptoms which could help in
detecting measles.

The symptoms of measles include:

 Fever

 Hacking cough

 Red eyes

 Muscle pains

 Running nose

 Sore throat

 Sores inside the mouth

 Dry cough

 Inflamed eyes(conjunctivitis)

 Tiny white spots with bluish-white centers on a red background found inside the mouth on
the inner lining of the cheek — also called Koplik's spots

 A skin rash made up of large, flat blotches that often flow into one another

The infection occurs in a sequence of stages during a period of two to three weeks.

 Infection and incubation. For the first 10 to 14 days after you're infected, the measles
virus incubates. You have no signs or symptoms of measles during this time.

 Nonspecific signs and symptoms. Measles typically begins with a mild to moderate fever,
often accompanied by a persistent cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis) and
sore throat. This relatively mild illness may last two or three days.

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  Acute illness and rash. The rash consists of small red spots, some of which are slightly
raised. Spots and bumps in tight clusters give the skin a splotchy red appearance. The face
breaks out first.

Over the next few days, the rash spreads down the arms and trunk, then over the thighs,
lower legs and feet. At the same time, the fever rises sharply, often as high as 104 to 105.8
F (40 to 41 C). The measles rash gradually recedes, fading first from the face and last from
the thighs and feet.

 Communicable period. A person with measles can spread the virus to others for about
eight days, starting four days before the rash appears and ending when the rash has been
present for four days

Body rash appears within 4 – 5 days after the symptoms start. It might be accompanied by a
high fever. These are the symptoms of measles.

NURSING CARE:

 Isolation until 5th day of rash.

 Keep a child in bed until fever and cough subside.
 Dim light, clean eyelid, irrigate eye with saline.
 Encourage fluid during fever.
 Increase humidity in child's room to relieve cough.
 Relieve itching of skin by tepid bath and soothing lotion.
 Immune serum or gamma-globulin may be given to modify illness and reduce
complication.
 Antibacterial therapy given for treatment of complication. e.g. respiratory infection or
gastroenteritis.

Supportive Care for Treating Measles

Supportive care can include:

 Intravenous (IV) fluids

 Medications to control fever or pain
 Antibiotics to treat secondary infections from bacteria

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  Good nursing care.
 Vitamin A as Part of Measles Treatment

In developing countries, malnutrition, vitamin A deficiency, and severe measles are common.
For these situations, the treatment of measles should include vitamin A medication for two days,
starting as soon as a measles diagnosis is made. This treatment has been shown to decrease the
risk of blindness and death.

COMPLICATIONS

Measles, if not treated properly can lead to chronic complications like pneumonia, encephalitis
etc. The other complications may include:

 Ear infection. One of the most common complications of measles is a bacterial ear
infection.

 Bronchitis, laryngitis or croup. Measles may lead to inflammation of your voice box
S(larynx) or inflammation of the inner walls that line the main air passageways of your
lungs (bronchial tubes).

 Pneumonia. Pneumonia is a common complication of measles. People with compromised

immune systems can develop an especially dangerous variety of pneumonia that is
sometimes fatal.

 Encephalitis. About 1 in 1,000 people with measles develops a complication called

encephalitis. Encephalitis may occur right after measles, or it might not occur until months
later.

 Pregnancy problems. If you're pregnant, you need to take special care to avoid measles
because the disease can cause preterm labor, low birth weight and maternal death.

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DIAGNOSIS

Doctor confirms measles by examining a skin rash and other symptoms or characteristics of the

disease. If it is not possible to confirm by examining visible symptoms, the doctor might advise

for a blood test.

If you suspect that you have measles or have been exposed to someone with measles, contact
your doctor immediately. They can evaluate you and direct you where to be seen to determine if
you have the infection.

Doctors can confirm measles by examining your skin rash and checking for symptoms that are
characteristic of the disease, such as white spots in the mouth, fever, cough, and sore throat.

If they suspect you may have measles based on your history and observation, your doctor will
order a blood test to check for the measles virus.

TREATMENT OF MEASLES

There is no specific treatment for measles. The virus and symptoms generally disappear within
two to three weeks but the doctor might recommend the following treatments:

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  Medications that help to improve the immune system

 Medications to reduce a cough and sore throat

 Acetaminophen to reduce muscle pains and fever

 Foods that are rich in vitamin A

In the case of children, It is advised that they should be closely monitored by a doctor. Children
should be placed in isolation until they are fully recovered.

PREVENTION OF MEASLES

As there is no specific treatment, it is advised to follow all necessary precautions which help to
prevent measles. Children should be vaccinated within 12 months of their birth and the second
dose should be between the ages of 4 and 6. MMR is a vaccine that prevents three diseases like
mumps, measles, and rubella. Treating the disease in early stages is also very important,
especially for children.

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