Measle

• Measles - Respiratory disease caused by a virus.
• Rubeola - Other term for measles.
• Measle Group: Myxovirus
• Measle - Occurs only in humans but commonly found in children.
• Measle Specie: Measles Virus
• Measle Genus: Morbillivirus
• Measle Family: Paramyxoviridae
• 90% - Percentage of individuals who can be infected when exposed to measle virus.
• Mohammed-e Zakaria-ye Razi - Also known by the Europeanized name Rhazes, published one of the first written accounts of measles disease.
• 1963 - measles vaccines were licensed in the US.
• 1968 - Measles vaccines began to be distributed.
• 2000 - Measles was declared eliminated from the US
• Elimination - means that there was no continuous disease transmission for more than 12 months.
• Novel Laureate John F. Enders and Thomas Peebles - They first isolated the virus in 1954.
• • Modes of Transmission Droplets
• Infectious Period - 4 days before the appearance of rash to 4 days after.
• Modes of Transmission

  • Human to human via droplets
  • Airborne
• Risk Factors

  • Vitamin A Deficiency
  • Malnutrition
  • Immunocompromised
  • Pregnant woman
• Pathogenesis

  1. Respiratory transmission of the virus
  2. Enters mucosa
  3. Replication in the nasopharynx and regional lymph nodes
  4. Primary Viremia
  5. Second Viremia
• Primary Viremia: 2-3 days after exposure. The blood enters the blood stream
• Second viremia: 5-7 days after exposure with spread to tissues (measles)
• Incubation Period - 6 to 21 days (measles). Asymptomatic.
• Prodrome

  • Occurs for 2-4 days.
  • Fever, malaise, anorexia
• 3 Cs

  • Conjunctivitis
  • Coryza
  • Cough
• Exanthem

  -Measle Spots
• Koplik Spot - White, gray and blue spots on the erythematous base.
• Macules - Flat skin lesions less than 1cm in diameter.
• Papules - Raised skin lesions less than 1cm in diameter.
• Modified Measles

  • Attenuated measle infection who has partial immunity.
  • Longer incubation period, same symptoms, less severe, less contagious.
• Atypical Measles

  • Very rare
  • Occurs only in individuals who were in US between 1963 and 1967.
  • Complications: Vasculitis and pnemonities
• Measle Diagnosis

  • Clinical Diagnosis
  • Serology - anti-measles IgM antibodies
  • RT-PCR for viral genetic
• MMR (V) Vaccination

  • Live vaccine for measles. Effective in preventing measles