Measles Disease

“Measles is a viral respiratory system infection that is best known for the rash of large, flat, red blotches that appear on the arms, face, neck, and body” (Alic 1067). The reason I chose measles as my topic is that I knew it was a common disease. Plus, I recently heard about the outbreak that happened at Disneyland and wanted to learn more about it. Before I began my research, I only knew that measles was a disease. I didn’t know any of the symptoms, let alone how deadly it is. Now, I know a lot more. Measles first came to America with European explorers. This caused many of native inhabitants to die from the foreign disease. Measles can spread through either direct or indirect contact. When it is airborne, such as when someone with the
virus sneezes, it stays in the air for up to two hours and infect another person who contacts it. Like with most viruses, it is also direct, which means that when the infected person transfers the physically to someone else. Although, if someone has the proper vaccination for measles, then they have a much higher chance of not getting sick. Once a person is infected with the measles virus, there is an “incubation period” of 10 to 12 days until the first symptoms appear. The first signs would be the ones the same as the flu, such as a fever, runny nose, a cough, and sensitive and reddened eyes. The fever would usually be around the range of 103-105° Fahrenheit. About one to two days before the rash begins, bluish-white dots inside of the cheeks or other moist linings of the mouth called Koplik spots would appear. The rash then replaces them outside the body by starting at the forehead and spreads. After a few days, it would soon cover the body. Once fought off, the rash would disappear the same way that came. Some people may also get pneumonia and encephalitis from measles. Doctors diagnose someone with measles after they ask them about their symptoms and give them a physical exam. If they need to go farther, they will take blood tests as well. To fight off measles, a person would need to get plenty of rest of fluids due to dehydration. They would also need to get Vitamin A and antibiotics if bacterial infections form. If it is serious enough, the patient would need to stay at the hospital and might need intravenous fluids that go through the veins. Luckily, it is not a benign disease The only true way of preventing measles is through vaccination. Although there has been recent controversy about the link between the vaccine and autism, it is proven to be false. In fact, the controversy struck fire again after the recent outbreak in Disneyland of December 2014, which cost the state of California $10,000 to contain. Certain parents are prohibiting their children from getting the vaccine because they fear that it is linked to autism. This was proven to be false a long time ago. Another argument for this case is for religious beliefs and even personal rights. Currently, 19 out of the 50 states allow families to avoid vaccination. However, nonmedical exemptions are starting to fade away for vaccination rules at schools due to outbreaks. If I had the measles, what would be most difficult for me would be red rash from head to toe.
Not only would it look disgusting, it might itch, and I do deal with itches too well. What I would need to do differently is to stay at a hospital. I never like staying home with a serious illness. I always like to have help right with me in case I need it, it helps me cope with it. Right now, I’m not doing anything to increase my risk of measles. I have my vaccination, and do not know anybody that currently has the virus. To help prevent it, I could probably try to avoid sick people more often. I’ve never known anyone that had measles, and I don’t want to become the first person I
do. In conclusion, I have learned a lot more than I used to know about measles.
Like I said before, I didn’t even know what measles was. Now, I know how it’s caused, the symptoms of it, the diagnosis, the treatment, and how to prevent it. I didn’t even know that measles can cause brain damage, which was an interesting fact I learned from one of the articles I read. What really surprised me was that measles is so contagious, and even more, that it can be stopped with a single vaccine. I think that scientists have found all the facts we need about measles, but there is always more. Instead of researching it further, we should enforce vaccination laws in all 50 states and focus on different viruses and diseases. Hopefully, the U.S. can make its way to being measles-free, but for now, we have to keep an eye on
it.