Signs and Symptoms

Measles is associated with the following signs and symptoms:

• High fever
• Conjunctivitis (red, irritated eyes)
• Cough
• Sore throat, hoarseness
• Runny nose
• Red spots with bluish white centers (called Koplik spots) on the inside of the mouth
• Red, blotchy, itchy rash, which begins on the face and then spreads
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Rarely (1 in 1,000 cases), extreme drowsiness, seizure, or coma, suggesting involvement of the central nervous system
• Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain (these symptoms are less common)

What Causes It?

Measles is caused by a virus (paramyxovirus) that is spread through the air or by contact with infectious droplets from the nose, mouth, or throat. You can contract the disease just by being in the same room as an infected person. Most people get measles because they were never immunized. Once someone has measles, they are immune for life.

Who is Most At Risk?

People with the following conditions or characteristics are at risk for developing measles:

• Weakened immune system caused by a congenital immunodeficiency, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or drugs that suppress the immune system (for example, chemotherapy medicines)
• Infants less than 1 year of age (too young to be immunized)
• Other children and adults who have not been immunized, or who have been insufficiently immunized
• Diminished immunity from vaccination in childhood (occurs rarely but with increasing frequency as adults get older)

What to Expect at Your Provider's Office

Anyone with a fever and unexplained rash should see a health care provider. Your health care provider will do a physical examination, checking for Koplik spots or the rash that usually appears several days after the spots have disappeared. To help confirm the diagnosis, your provider may order a blood test to detect the presence of antibodies against the measles virus.

Treatment Options

Prevention

Vaccination is the key to preventing measles. Health care staff administer the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) or the MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella) vaccine in two doses, one at age 12 to 15 months, and the second at age 4 to 6 years. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective in protecting against measles.

Treatment Plan

Rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and treatment to relieve symptoms are adequate if there are no complications.

Drug Therapies

The following medications may be used to manage measles:

• Acetaminophen for high fevers. Children under 16 should not be given aspirin because of the danger of developing Reye syndrome.
• Antibiotics for bacterial complications, such as pneumonia and ear infection.
• Immune gamma globulin followed by measles vaccination 5 to 6 months later.
• Vitamin A supplements given to children to lower the risk of complications and death.

Complementary and Alternative Therapies

Following a healthy diet is important for overall good health:

• Avoid refined foods, such as white breads, pastas, and sugar.
• Use healthy oils in cooking, such as olive oil or canola oil.
• Reduce or eliminate high-fat foods such as commercially-baked goods such as cookies, crackers, cakes, and donuts. Also avoid French fries, onion rings, processed foods, and margarine.
• Avoid coffee and other stimulants, alcohol, and tobacco.
• Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily.

You may address nutritional deficiencies with the following supplements:

• A multivitamin daily, containing the antioxidant vitamins A, C, E, the B-vitamins and trace minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, and selenium. Don't take more than recommended daily amount and don’t take additional vitamins if you already take a multivitamin. Taking more than recommended daily amounts can lead to serious complications.
• Probiotic supplement (containing Lactobacillus acidophilus), 5 to 10 billion CFUs (colony forming units) a day, for maintenance of gastrointestinal and immune health. Some probiotic supplements need refrigeration. Check the label carefully. Some clinicians avoid giving probiotic supplements to severely immune-deficient patients. If using in children, make sure the supplement is specially formulated for use in children. DO NOT use a product for adults.

Herbs may help strengthen and tone the body's systems. As with any therapy, you should work with your health care provider before starting treatment. Most herbs are not suitable for pregnant or nursing women unless prescribed by a specialist. You may use herbs as dried extracts (capsules, powders, or teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). You may use tinctures alone or in combination as noted. The herbs listed below are to help support immunity while providing antibacterial and antiviral support. DO NOT give herbs to children unless prescribed by their physician.

• Green tea (Camellia sinensis) standardized extract, 250 to 500 mg daily, for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune effects. Use caffeine-free products. You may also prepare teas from the leaf of this herb. Green tea may worsen anemia and potentially glaucoma.
• Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum). High doses of Reishi can have blood pressure-lowering and blood-thinning effects, and may dangerously increase the effect of blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin and aspirin. Reishi is only suitable for short-term use. DO NOT take reishi for more than one month at a time. If you have any form of liver disease, check with your physician before taking reishi.
• Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa), for inflammation and antiviral activity. Cat's claw can interfere with a variety of medications. Speak with your doctor. Cat's claw can have deleterious effects in patients with Leukemia and autoimmune disease.
• Phyllanthus (Phyllanthus amarus) standardized extract, 200 mg, 2 to 4 times daily for antiviral effects. Phyllanthus can interact with lithium and diabetes medications. Phyllanthus may slow blood clotting and therefore can interact with blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin (Coumadin) and aspirin, among others. It may also lower blood sugar so check with your doctor if you have blood sugar abnormalities.

To reduce itching from the rash, try using witch hazel (Hamamelis virginia) topically or add oatmeal to a bath. Test on a small patch of skin before using more widely.

According to the National Institutes of Health, there is little evidence to support homeopathy as an effective treatment for any specific health condition. Also, while most homeopathic remedies contain small amounts of the active ingredient, they may still have side effects and drug interactions. So if you choose a homeopathic product on your own, it’s best to talk with your health care provider before you use it to check for possible side effects or drug interactions.

If you decide to work with a homeopath, choose someone with training and experience and discuss any potential treatments carefully.

A professional homeopath may recommend one or more treatments for measles based on his or her knowledge and clinical experience. Before prescribing a remedy, homeopaths take into account a person's constitutional type, which includes your physical, emotional, and intellectual makeup. An experienced homeopath assesses all of these factors when determining the most appropriate remedy for a particular individual.

Prognosis/Possible Complications

Measles is most often an uncomplicated childhood illness. The most common complication of measles in children is acute otitis media, which occurs in 7 to 9% of cases. However, infants and adults, especially those who are malnourished or whose immune system is weak, may develop complications that involve the respiratory system, central nervous system, or digestive system, and may need to be hospitalized. In a small percentage of cases, measles can be fatal.

Measles in a pregnant woman can result in premature birth, miscarriage, stillbirth, or low birth weight babies. Infants of mothers with active measles should receive immune globulin at birth. Pregnant women should not be vaccinated.

Supporting Research

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