Qwerty
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can be fatal. Although an uncommon disease in the United States of America, in 2008, measles killed 164,000 children worldwide. In most people, the disease produces fever (temperature > 101 F [38.3 C]), a generalized rash that last greater than three days, cough, runny nose(coryza), and red eyes (conjunctivitis). The complications of measles that result in most deaths include pneumonia and inflammation of the brain (encephalitis).
Symptoms
Symptoms will appear about 9-11 days after infection, and may include the following: * Coryza - runny nose. * Dry hacking cough. * Conjunctivitis - swollen eyelids, inflamed eyes. * Watery eyes. * Photophobia - sensitivity to light. * Sneezing. * Fever - this may be mild to severe and can reach 105F (40.6C) for a number of days. Fever may drop, and then rise again when the rash appears. * Koplik's spots - very small grayish-white spots with bluish-white centers in the mouth, insides of cheeks, and throat. * Aches generally all over the body. * Rash - 3 to 4 days after initial symptoms a reddish-brown spotty rash appears. The rash can last for over a week. It usually starts behind the ears and spreads all over the head and neck. After a couple of days it spreads to the rest of the body, including the legs. As the little spots grow many of them will join together
Cause
A very contagious disease, measles is caused by an infection with the measles virus. Transmission of the virus occurs through the coughing and sneezing of an infected person. If one person has it, 90 percent of their susceptible close contacts will also become infected with the measles virus.
Measles Virus is a Paramyxovirus, of the genus Morbillivirus. It is single-stranded RNA virus, and is closely related to the rinderpestand canine distemper viruses. Measles virus is rapidly inactivated by heat, light, acidic pH, ether, and trypsin (an enzyme). It has a short
Symptoms
Symptoms will appear about 9-11 days after infection, and may include the following: * Coryza - runny nose. * Dry hacking cough. * Conjunctivitis - swollen eyelids, inflamed eyes. * Watery eyes. * Photophobia - sensitivity to light. * Sneezing. * Fever - this may be mild to severe and can reach 105F (40.6C) for a number of days. Fever may drop, and then rise again when the rash appears. * Koplik's spots - very small grayish-white spots with bluish-white centers in the mouth, insides of cheeks, and throat. * Aches generally all over the body. * Rash - 3 to 4 days after initial symptoms a reddish-brown spotty rash appears. The rash can last for over a week. It usually starts behind the ears and spreads all over the head and neck. After a couple of days it spreads to the rest of the body, including the legs. As the little spots grow many of them will join together
Cause
A very contagious disease, measles is caused by an infection with the measles virus. Transmission of the virus occurs through the coughing and sneezing of an infected person. If one person has it, 90 percent of their susceptible close contacts will also become infected with the measles virus.
Measles Virus is a Paramyxovirus, of the genus Morbillivirus. It is single-stranded RNA virus, and is closely related to the rinderpestand canine distemper viruses. Measles virus is rapidly inactivated by heat, light, acidic pH, ether, and trypsin (an enzyme). It has a short