Causes, Risk Factors, And Complications Of Measles
Measles or rubeola is a contagious childhood infection caused by a virus. Symptoms of measles do not appear in an infected individual until between ten to fourteen days after they are initially exposed. Symptoms begin with a mild fever that may or may not manifest with flu-like symptoms including dry cough, runny nose, and a sore throat. As the infection progresses, a rash of slightly raised, small red spots appears on the affected individual's skin. Usually, the face breaks out in this rash first, and Koplik's spots appear in the mouth. The rash spreads across the arms, down the trunk, and onto the thighs, legs, and feet. Once the rash has spread over the body, the patient will spike a fever between 104 and 105.8 degrees Fahrenheit. There is no measles cure, so treatment is carried out with fever reducers, antibiotics, and vitamin A. Various risk factors, causes, and complications can affect a patient's measles outcome. Learn about them now.