Assignment:

Medical microbiological diseases:

Measles a viral disease

SUBMITTED BY: Zuha Khan

SUBMITTED TO: Dr. Isfahan Tauseef

ASSIGNMENT: Medical Microbiology
DATE:January /15/ 2025

Department of Biochemistry
Hazara University, Mansehra
 Measles A Viral Disease

Measles Introduction:
Measles is an infection caused by the measles virus. It spreads through coughing, sneezing,
and contact with contaminated surfaces. It usually causes cold like, symptoms and a rash, but
sometimes it can be fatal leads to serious complications ,including
pneumonia ,encephalitis ,and even death. It is an infection caused by the measles virus. It
spreads through coughing, sneezing, and contact with contaminated surfaces. It usually
causes cold like, symptoms and a rash, but sometimes it can be fatal. Potentially life-
threatening viral disease that effects millions of peoples worldwide, particularly in children.
 Also called as Rubeola meaning RED SPOT.
 Highly infectious viral disease belongs to group of (Myrxiovirus)
 Occurs only in humans.
 Has high morbidity and mortality in developing countries.
PATHOGENESIS:
Viral Replication:
Viral Entry:
Measles virus enters the body through respiratory droplets or contact with infected secretions

Replication:
The virus replicates in the respiratory epithelium, releasing viral particles.

Symptoms:
The symptoms of measles usually appear about 10 days after exposure to an infected person.
The most well-known symptom of measles is a blotchy red rash, but this is not usually the
first symptom. Measles usually starts as a flu-like illness lasting for between 2 and 4 days
with symptoms that include:

 fever
 tiredness
 severe cough
 conjunctivitis (red eyes)
 runny nose
 white spots in the mouth (known as Koplik spots
 itching
 sore throat
 fatigue
 headache
  muscle aches
 loss of appetite
On days 3 to 7 of the illness, the rash appears. It’s usually red and blotchy, but not itchy. A
measles rash generally starts on your head and then spreads down to the rest of the body. It
usually lasts 4 to 7 days.

Complications:

Measles can cause serious complications, especially in children under 5 years old. These
include:
 Brain inflammation: Acute encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain, can occur in 1
out of every 1,000 measles cases. This can lead to permanent brain damage or death.
 Pneumonia: A lung infection that can be especially dangerous for young children.
 Ear infections: Otitis media is a common complication of measles.
 Diarrhea: Severe diarrhea can lead to dehydration.
 Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE): A rare but fatal degenerative disease of the
central nervous system. Symptoms include behavioral and intellectual deterioration, and
seizures that usually develop 7 to 10 years after measles infection.
 Blindness: A possible complication of measles.
 Hearing loss: A possible complication of measles.
 Immunosuppression: A possible complication of measles.

Other complications include: bronchopneumonia, laryngotracheobronchitis, and seizures.

 Complications of measles during pregnancy include:
 Premature birth: Measles can cause a baby to be born before the 37th week of pregnancy.
 Low birth weight: Measles can cause a baby to be born with a low birth weight.
 Miscarriage or stillbirth: Measles can cause a miscarriage or stillbirth.
 Pneumonia: Measles can cause pneumonia, a serious complication for pregnant women.

EPIDEMOLOGY:
Cause of measles:
Measles is caused by the measles virus, a highly contagious RNA virus that infects the
respiratory tract and spreads throughout the body:
Mode Of Transmission:
The virus spreads through the air or by direct contact with droplets from an infected
person's cough, sneeze, or breath. It can also spread through contact with contaminated
surfaces.
Airborne
When an infected person breathes, coughs, sneezes, or talks, they release airborne droplets
that contain the measles virus. The virus can remain active in the air for up to two hours.
Direct contact
Touching an infected surface and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth can spread the
virus. You can also spread measles by encountering an infected person's nasal or throat
secretions.
Infectious period
An infected person can spread measles from four days before the rash appears to four days
after the rash appears.
Measles spread easily in places where children gather, such as schools, homes, and health
centers.
How is measles spread?
Measles is spread through contact with an infected person. This may be from:

 person-to-person contact
 coughing and sneezing

Measles virus particles can stay in a room and infect others for up to 2 hours. The virus can
be in the air or on surfaces.

Measles is very contagious. You are usually contagious from around the day before you feel
unwell until 4 days after your rash appears.

Up to 9 in every 10 people who are not immune to measles will get measles from an infected
person.

Risk Factors

Anyone not given the measles vaccine or who has received only 1 dose can get measles.
Children who are too young to be vaccinated have a high risk of infection. Unvaccinated
people who travel internationally, attend college, or work in a hospital are also at increased
risk. People with vitamin A deficiency may have a more severe case.

Age
Unvaccinated young children are at higher risk of severe complications.
Vitamin A deficiency
A lack of vitamin A in your diet can lead to more severe symptoms and complications.
Travel
Traveling to areas where measles is common increases your risk of getting it.
Immune system
Children with malnutrition or other conditions that weaken their immune system are at
higher risk of death from measles.
Immunodeficiency
Children with immunodeficiency due to HIV or AIDS, leukemia, alkylating agents, or
corticosteroid therapy are at higher risk.
Infants
Infants who lose passive immunity before routine immunization are at higher risk.

Incubation Period:
The incubation period of measles is typically 7-14 days, but can range from 5-21 days

Infectious Period:
People with measles are infectious from 4 days after the appearance of rash.

Measles incidence:
The measles incidence was calculated by dividing measles-confirmed cases by the
population of the year and then multiplying by one million to compute the measles
incidence per million people for a single-year period or multiple-year period.

Global Distribution:
Measles is a global health treat, with outbreaks occurring in many countries. According to the
WHO, Measles is endemic in many parts of world, particularly in;
Africa:
Countries with weak health system and low vaccination coverage
Asia:
Countries with large population and inadequate vaccination coverage.
Europe:
Countries with declining vaccination rates and increasing cases

Treatment And Prevention:

Treatment:
Measles is caused by a virus, so there's no specific medical treatment for it.
Drinking enough water and treatments for dehydration can replace fluids lost to diarrhoea or
vomiting. Eating a healthy diet is also important.
Doctors may use antibiotics to treat pneumonia and ear and eye infections.
All children or adults with measles should receive two doses of vitamin A supplements, given
24 hours apart. This restores low vitamin A levels that occur even in well-nourished children.
It can help prevent eye damage and blindness. Vitamin A supplements may also reduce the
number of measles deaths.

Prevention:

Community-wide vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles. All children
should be vaccinated against measles. The vaccine is safe, effective and inexpensive.
Children should receive two doses of the vaccine to ensure they are immune. The first dose is
usually given at 9 months of age in countries where measles is common and 12–15 months in
other countries. A second dose should be given later in childhood, usually at 15–18 months.
The measles vaccine is given alone or often combined with vaccines for mumps, rubella
and/or varicella.

The measles vaccine is a vital tool in preventing the spread of measles and reducing global
deaths from the disease. It's usually given in combination with the mumps, rubella, and/or
varicella vaccines, and is also used in emergencies to stop outbreaks

Vaccination:
NMR
 NMRV
For measles: MMR vaccine protects your child from getting an uncomfortable rash and high
fever from measles.
Children: The first dose is usually given at 9–15 months of age, and the second dose at 15
months to 6 years of age.
Adults: Adults who were not vaccinated when they were younger can get the MMR vaccine.
The MMR vaccine is: 93% effective against measles, 78% effective against mumps, and 97%
effective against rubella.
About 95% of people develop immunity after the first dose, and the rest develop it after the
second dose. Immunity lasts a lifetime.
Chain Of Infection:
Transmission usually occurs when an infectious agent is transmitted from an
infected individual to a susceptible person. The traditional epidemiologic triad
model holds that infectious diseases result from the interaction of agent, host, and
environment. More specifically, transmission occurs when the agent leaves
its reservoir or host through a portal of exit, is conveyed by some mode of
transmission, and enters through an appropriate portal of entry to infect
a susceptible host. This sequence is called the chain of infection