Recently, cases of measles increased by 32 times in several regions in Indonesia in 2022 compared to 2021. Measles is a contagious disease, even IDAI itself warned that this disease is more deadly than Covid-19. Because Covid-19 has infected more than 650 million global residents with a mortality rate below 1%. Meanwhile, the death rate from measles is much higher.
According to IDAI, measles is a highly contagious acute viral infection. Measles is caused by the Paramyxovirus and is transmitted mainly by air or airborne. In addition, transmission can be through droplets, splashes of saliva when coughing, sneezing, talking, or through nasal secretions. The attack rate of transmission of this measles disease is more than 90% of individuals who are infected from 4 days before to 4 hours after the appearance of the rash. Meanwhile, the incubation period for measles is 7-18 days.
Measles is also at high risk of increasing infection due to decreased immune system. Especially for children who have not repeated the measles vaccine so that their body's memory cannot remember the disease when they were infected. Added to this is the impact of the pandemic which has reduced the measles vaccine and complete basic immunization in children drastically.
How important is the measles vaccine for health?
Measles can be avoided by immunization or measles vaccine. To prevent measles, a high immunization coverage is required, namely 91-94 percent. This is why the measles vaccine itself is given since toddlers.
Symptoms of Measles to Watch Out for
Measles should not be underestimated because it can cause various complications that can lead to death. Measles can be a serious problem for all age groups. Patients exposed to measles have the potential to have several complications such as hearing loss, diarrhea, pneumonia, brain swelling and blindness.
So, for that it is important to know what symptoms appear when someone has measles. The following are symptoms of measles from IDAI to watch out for:
- Fever with body temperature usually> 380C for 3 days or more and will end after 4-7 days. High fever occurs after 10-12 days after contracting. There is also a cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes (3C: cough, coryza, conjunctivitis).
- A characteristic sign (pathognomonic) is found in Koplik's spot or a grayish-white spot with a red base on the inside of the cheek.
- Symptoms on the body in the form of a maculopapular rash. The rash appears on the face and neck, starting behind the ears, then spreading all over the body. The rash persists for 3 days or more on the 4th to 7th day of fever. The rash appears when the fever is at its peak. The rash lasts in 5 to 6 days, and becomes copper or black in color.
Adverse Effects and Complications Due to Measles
Reporting from the Ministry of Health, measles will be very dangerous if complications occur. The impact of measles itself can cause severe diarrhea to death. Meanwhile, the complications of measles are generally severe, so it is feared to cause complications such as pneumonia, inflammation of the brain, infection of the lining of the eye to blindness.
How to Cure Measles
There's no treatment to cure an existing measles infection, but over-the-counter fever reducers or vitamin A can relieve symptoms. During a measles infection, make sure your little one drinks lots of water to prevent dehydration, get plenty of rest, avoid the sun as long as the eyes are still sensitive to light, take fever-reducing medication and pain relievers. (Aq/MKK)
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