Campak pada Anak, Waspadai Gejala dan Penularannya

Measles in Children, Beware of Symptoms and Transmission

Measles is a highly contagious infection caused by the morbilli virus or measles virus, this occurrence of measles often occurs in children but can also occur at all ages but is more susceptible at the age of children. This disease is categorized as an extraordinary event A, because this measles will attack almost 100% of children who are not immune to the virus which causes death. Deaths in measles are mostly caused by complications including diarrhea, pneumonia, and encephalitis. The morbili virus or measles virus can disappear or die easily to light or heat.

Transmission of measles can be through droplets or splashes of saliva that come out of the mouth, nose or throat infected with measles when coughing, talking or sneezing. The period of transmission is four days before the appearance of the rash until after four days after the rash appears. The peak of transmission is during the initial symptoms or the so-called prodromal phase, which is the first 1-3 days of illness. The period between the initial infection and the first symptoms of the disease is 7-18 days, an average of up to 10 days.

Signs and symptoms of measles at first has a fever above 38.5 degrees Celsius for three days or more, and is accompanied by other symptoms such as a runny nose, red and watery eyes, diarrhea, spots or a reddish rash starting from behind the ears until a maculopapular rash occurs like an area of skin that changes color, there are also distinctive signs such as white spots or koplik spots on the red base on the inside of the cheeks.

Measles can be prevented by administering measles or MR vaccination, namely measles rubella measles or MMR. The function and purpose of immunization is to prevent complications, which is given three times, namely at the age of 9 months and then given back again at the age of 18 months and at the age of 5 before entering school, it must be given because it is included in the national immunization program. Failure to receive measles immunization is a risk factor for death from measles. Mortality from measles in children is influenced by secondary infection by bacteria, immunosuppressive effects by viruses, multisystem organ involvement, severity of measles at the time of arrival at the health facility, nutritional status and patient comorbidities.

If Friends of Hermina experience the symptoms of measles above, you should consult a pediatrician at RSU Hermina Periuk Tangerang to get the right treatment.