Measles - Rubeola

Measles is an air-borne infectious disease of childhood throughout the world. Measles is caused by an RNA virus of the paramyxovirus group. The incubation period of the virus is commonly ten days from exposure to the onset of fever and fourteen days to the appearance of rash. During the first stage of the disease fever, coughing, sneezing, running nose and redness of eyes are common. Acute cases are associated with diarrhoea, pneumonia and bronchitis. Eruption of small red spots (rubeola) and inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose are the symptoms during the second stage. Skin rashes and itching are also common. The mode of transmission of the disease is usually through air in the form of droplet infection targeting the respiratory tract. The virus can also invade through conjunctiva of the eye. When a child contracts the disease isolation for at least seven days after the onset of rashes is necessary. The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is administered to infants between 12-15 months of age and again during the pre-school period of 3-5 years of age.