Measles Treatment: Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Rubella, contagion, epidemic roseola. German measles, morbili, rubeola

A viral disease caused by the infection of rubeola or rubella virus that gives the patient a very unpleasant condition for about 7 to 10 days. A very contagious disease infecting the respiratory system that mainly spread through infected saliva and mucus contact. Sharing infected utensils for food or the same glass for drinking water, or sneezing and coughing can easily infect you if you are in the vicinity of the infected person. The virus stays on the surface after getting released for several hours. Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, sore throat, sensitivity to light, white spots in the mouth and muscle pain. Apart from all these mentioned symptoms, a widespread red rash on the skin is the actual sign of the infection. The rash normally lasts for about 3 to 7 days with or without medication. There is no such treatment prescribed by a physician as the symptoms and the virus usually take just 2-3 weeks to disappear on their own. Although there can be some medication to relieve the symptoms like reducing fever and aches, flushing out toxins from the body and so on. Also, in case if you were not vaccinated against the measles virus earlier in your life but come in close proximity to an infected person, you can also get a post-exposure vaccination within 72 hours of exposure to the virus.

As already stated that the viral infection does not entail any specific medication to treat it and tye condition gets healed within 2-3 weeks on its own. Although to relieve the symptoms your general physician can prescribe you with acetaminophen like ibuprofane or paracetamol to reduce fever and muscle aches, symptoms in children can be treated with medications like liquid paracetamol, it is advised not to give aspirin to children under 16 years old. Also, people with weak immune system, pregnant women and infants who get measles virus exposure can receive immune serum globulin injection that act as antibodies against the viral antigens. In case you or your child also gets infected by bacteria that cause an ear infection or pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics. Your physician may also prescribe you or your child with vitamin A in case you have more severe cases of measles infection. A large dose of about 200,000 international units (IU) for two days are given patients requiring it. Only very severe cases of measles require hospital treatment. In order to relieve the itchy rashes, if they are, local skin moisturisers can be used.

People who get infected with the measles virus develop symptoms that include a widespread appearance of red itchy bumps or rash all over the skin which can sometimes spread inside your mouth, nose or ears too. Other symptoms along with include fever, sore throat, runny nose, cough, red eyes, white spots in the mouth and sensitivity to light.

Generally measles infection does not require any specific treatment. So, if you or your child does not develop any secondary bacterial infection or fever or have a strong immune system and does not get a very severe case of the infection, medication and treatments are not needed.

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Whether you go for measles infection treatment or not, you must avoid any contact with people especially pregnant women and children who are more prone to catch the infection. Children affected with measles infection should avoid going to school for at least the first four days of the infection. This reduces the risk of spreading the infection. It is also advisable to intake a lot of fluids to keep the body hydrated and continue flushing out toxins of the body. If you or your child is infected with the virus, try to be in cool atmosphere but not very cold. To relieve your cold apart from medicines you can also have warm drinks with lemon and honey to soothe a cough.

With or without treatment, a measles infection takes just about a week or two to go off completely.

Measles treatment does not involve very extensive medication but whatever physician consultation, medication and vaccination is required, it gets done within Rs. 300 to Rs. 1,000.

Once a person gets infected by the measles virus, they develop an immune system against it and never get infected by the same virus again in their life. So, whether they undergo specific treatment for the infection or not, measles do not reappear or relapse.