Symptoms, signs and diagnosis of measles in children and adults + photo

There are many diseases that have been virtually eliminated through vaccination and preventive measures. Most of them are characterized by bright symptoms, severe course and development of serious complications. These factors stimulated scientists to invent various ways to diagnose and prevent pathologies. Such diseases include measles, outbreaks of which have become quite rare in developed countries.

What is measles

Korjucalled acute infectious disease, which is caused by the virus. Its feature is extremely high infectiousness, due to which it easily penetrates into the human body through the mucous membranes. The infectious agent then begins to multiply in the epithelial cells of the inner surface of the nasopharynx, the trachea and the bronchi. The measles can be transmitted with the aid of an airborne path, rapidly spreading through the air even in cold weather.

The virus can be easily destroyed with various disinfectants, high temperatures, fat solvents, sunlight.

Because of severe complications that can occur in patients, the world records about 10-15 deaths every day. Of course, the highest percentage of such cases occurs in countries in Asia and Africa, where medicine is currently at a very low level.

Measles is considered a disease of young people, since it is in children that it is detected most often. However, in adults, the disease is accompanied by the most severe course. After recovery, stable immunity forms, which helps to reduce the number of cases of repeated infections.

Measles video in Elena Malysheva's program "Live healthy!"

Symptoms: high temperature, rash, Filatova-Koplik stains

Measles often lead to diagnostic errors, because there are several forms that are very different in manifestations. In people without immunity, the development of the disease is accompanied by a gradual increase in symptoms, the course is acute. However, in rare cases of repeated infection, an atypical form can be observed, which is easily confused at times even with a common cold.

Symptoms of the disease, including initial, catarrhal period

It is currently accepted to distinguish three stages of the disease and the incubation period. This course of the disease is typical for measles of a typical form.

Stages of the disease - table

Sometimes patients have two very severe forms that more often lead to different complications:

1. Hemorrhagic form is very dangerous due to multiple bleeding that can occur not only on the skin but also in the internal organs. Blood is found even in urine and feces. The patient needs urgent hospitalization, since a fatal outcome is possible. Arterial blood pressure can drop dramatically, the face becomes pale, there is a strong weakness, fainting is possible.
2. Hypertensive form is characterized by severe intoxication of the body. In the course of the disease, internal organs start to be affected in patients, which has a very negative effect on the patient's condition. If you do not take timely action, then everything can end in a fatal outcome due to multiple organ failure.

Manifestations of the disease in the child, including the baby, are older than the year.

Children have measles more often in less severe form than adults, and it takes less time. If in a typical form they have all the standard signs of the disease, then atypical the severity of the latter can vary significantly. This variant is observed in vaccinated children, since acquired immunity does not allow the disease to develop fully. There are several types of atypical measles that can be diagnosed in patients:

1. Abortion begins with high fever, dry cough, runny nose, and then all symptoms abruptly stop. The eruptions on the head and trunk are mild, pale and disappear in a short time.
2. Mitigated is a weak intoxication, the temperature rarely rises to febrile figures, the skin can be covered with a shallow and fast-acting rash. A sign of measles are spots on the gums at the base of the teeth. Most often this form is found in children who have been injected with gamma globulin for preventive purposes in order to avoid infection after contact with a sick person.
3. The dilated form can be similar to other diseases. Symptoms are not completely manifested, there may be no characteristic rashes. The patient has a little fever, there may be a cough, a runny nose.
4. Asymptomatic form is similar to an ordinary cold. In this case, patients are rarely diagnosed with a correct diagnosis.

. If a woman before pregnancy and childbirth has had measles, her antibodies are transmitted to the baby and for the first six months he has practically no chance of getting infected. However, over time, immunity weakens and after one year is required to undergo a special inoculation. Because of this, in the period from 6 to 12 months the probability of getting measles is significantly increased. In infancy, the disease is very difficult to tolerate, the risk of complications increases. During the catarrhal period, immunity is significantly reduced in children, which can lead to secondary infection.

Video about measles in the "Doctor Komarovsky School"

Signs of the disease in adults

Unlike children, in adulthood they have their own peculiarities:

• body temperature often rises to high figures;
• patients feel very bad, strict bed rest is required;
• spots of the Belsky-Filatova-Koplik are more pronounced and can appear on the whole body;
• the illness lasts longer, it takes more time to recover;
• more often requires hospitalization and treatment under the supervision of doctors.

Video about symptoms of measles

In pregnant women, the symptoms of measles are similar to those in adults and children. At the first stage there is a sharp increase in temperature, there is conjunctivitis, cough, runny nose, photosensitivity. There are also characteristic eruptions throughout the body.

. Diagnosis, including laboratory tests of blood for antibodies and immunity.

. When the first signs of measles appear, it is worthwhile to consult an infectious disease specialist. Usually the diagnosis is based on external symptoms. However, in case of suspicion of other diseases, the doctor will prescribe special laboratory methods of investigation, which with great accuracy help determine the causative agent of the disease.

In order to establish the correct diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe to the patient various diagnostic methods that allow to establish the cause of the disease with great accuracy.

1. The total blood test( UAC) with measles shows abnormalities characteristic of inflammation.
2. Immunoenzyme analysis of blood( ELISA) is performed to determine the intensity of immunity to measles virus. It can be performed at the initial stages of the disease. This method is quite informative, based on the detection of specific antibodies to the measles-immunoglobulin virus( IgG, IgM).Already after a day, an increased amount of IgM is detected, and approximately on the tenth day of the disease - IgG.
3. Polymerase chain reaction( PCR) is very specific and has almost 100% accuracy. During the study, the genetic material of the virus in the patient's blood is detected.
4. Hemagglutination inhibition reaction is performed to determine serum antibody titer. With measles, their growth is about four times.

When decoding a blood test for the content of immunoglobulins, M is guided by the following values:

• 0.12-0.18 IU / mL - a dubious result. Since the onset of the disease, there has been little time, so no antibodies;
• & gt; 0.18 IU / mL is a positive result. The virus is found by the body.

Differential diagnosis, including chickenpox and rubella

Differential diagnosis for measles is performed with other diseases accompanied by fever and rashes on the skin.

Differential diagnosis of measles - table

Diagnosis in pregnancy

Because the symptoms and course of the disease during pregnancy differ little from those in the rest of the patients, the diagnostic methods remain standard. First of all, the doctor will look for characteristic signs of measles, the appearance of Belsky spots, rashes. If there are any doubts, the specialist will send the woman to take the tests.

At the same time, it is almost impossible to detect infection of the fetus, since any changes will not be visible on the ultrasound. Babies born usually have measles rashes on their bodies.

Measles is a serious and dangerous viral disease that can lead to various severe consequences. People are sick, both younger and older. The measles virus is very contagious. It spreads quickly among people who are not immune to it. To reduce the incidence of the disease, special vaccines have been used for a long time.