Measles in adults and children - symptoms, course, consequences

The causative agent, the so-called RNA virus, dies very fast in the external environment. However, with direct contact with a measles infected person, there is almost a 100% probability of infection: the causative agent of the disease is transmitted by airborne droplets. Penetrating through the upper respiratory tract, it multiplies in the lymph nodes, then getting into the blood.

Symptoms of measles are quite typical. Its beginning is acute, with an increase in temperature to 38-40 degrees. In this case, there are pronounced catarrhal phenomena: hyperemia of the throat, cough, and conjunctivitis is also noted. The voice of a man who fell ill with measles is hoarse. Since the spotted papular measles rash appears only after 4-5 days, the diagnosis may present a certain complexity. It is in this period that patients are most contagious. In adults, it is more durable than in children.

A characteristic symptom that makes it possible to recognize measles in adults and children is the so-called spots of Filatov (Koplik), which appear on the second day of the disease on the inner surface of the cheeks, in the molars. They are whitish, small in size. A measles rash first appears on the face and neck, then covers the torso and only two days later - hands and feet. In adults, the spots of Filatov are usually preserved even after its appearance. With the onset of rashes, the temperature, which by this time usually falls, rises again.

To diagnose measles in adults or children helps and the typical appearance of the rash - with this disease, individual spots can merge. Already on the fourth day after the appearance of the rash begin to darken and flake: first on the face, then on the trunk and hands - exactly as they appeared. After them on the skin are dark spots that go through only ten days.

Measles, the signs of which are sufficiently known and well described, has its own characteristics, depending on the age of the patient. In addition, patients who were in contact with a patient with measles and received measles immunoglobulin as a prophylaxis, it can occur atypically: its incubation period is usually longer, the catarrhal manifestations are weaker or nonexistent. Disease in children usually proceeds much more easily than measles in adults. Symptoms of it in the latter case can be quite formidable: severe headache, convulsions, loss and confusion, vomiting. These signs indicate the defeat of the central nervous system and the development of meningoencephalitis: in adults this happens 10 times more often. The earlier they appeared, the more severe the course of the disease, even a lethal outcome is possible . Among other complications - pneumonia, otitis media, laryngitis, croup. In some cases, symptoms of hepatitis-like disease can be observed. With complications from the digestive system, tenderness of the abdomen is noted during examination, loose stools, nausea and vomiting. In addition, measles in adults is much more likely than in children, accompanied by an increase in the spleen.

It should be understood that those who have not had time to have measles in childhood, it is more severe, and complications with it are more frequent. The vaccination, unlike the disease, does not give lifelong immunity. Therefore, those who were vaccinated against measles more than a decade ago, it makes sense to undergo a second vaccination: this disease is extremely contagious and especially dangerous for the elderly.

Do not neglect prophylactic vaccinations and rely on your immunity - in recent years, measles in adults is diagnosed much more often than before. Thus, patients aged 14 years account for more than 80% of all cases. New outbreaks of the disease are recorded in the border areas - this is due to population migration. However, even if there is no measles epidemic in your area , its occurrence is not ruled out: one day a local tourist who has rested abroad can "bring" the disease. Therefore, based on how the measles in adults, you should take steps to prevent it.