BY GEORGE NAVA TRUE
MEASLES or rubeola (“tigdas” in Tagalog) is making a comeback and children all over the world are suffering because of this.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that deaths from this contagious childhood infection have risen to 50 percent worldwide from 2016 to 2019.
In 2019 alone, global measles cases climbed to 869,770, the highest number reported since 1996, according to WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the same year, WHO said deaths from measles increased to 207, 500.
These figures are a far cry from the reported historic low cases of measles in 2016. WHO said many parents failed to have their children vaccinated on time with the measles vaccine. It added that the pandemic and wrong beliefs about vaccination also crippled efforts to control the infection.
Millions at risk
In the Philippines, WHO and the Department of Health revealed there were about 3,500 reported cases of measles with 46 deaths as of August 2020. An estimated 2.4 million children under 5 are susceptible to the disease.
The Mayo Clinic said signs and symptoms of measles appear within 10 to 14 days after being exposed to the virus. In the first two or three days, the patient experiences mild to moderate fever with a dry cough, runny nose, sore throat, and inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis).
Koplik’s spots (tiny white spots with bluish-white centers on a red background) can be found inside the mouth on the inner lining of the cheek. Most people are familiar with the large rash that accompanies the disease. The Mayo Clinic said these red bumps appear on the face and spread down the arms and trunk, then over the thighs, lower legs, and feet over the next few days.
Four days before the rash appears, the patient is contagious for about eight days. This ends when the rash has been present for four days.
How the virus spreads
The Mayo Clinic revealed that the measles virus spreads when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. The infected droplets travel in the air where they are inhaled by other people. If they land on a surface, the droplets remain contagious for several hours. After touching an infected surface, you can get the disease once you put your fingers in your mouth or nose, or rub your eyes.
Those at risk for measles include people who have not been vaccinated, and international travelers who go to developing countries where the disease is present. People with vitamin A deficiency are more likely to have severe symptoms and suffer complications. These include bacterial ear infection, bronchitis, laryngitis or croup, pneumonia, and encephalitis.
Preventing measles
Vaccination prevents measles in adults and children and should be given as soon as possible. In infants, the first dose of the vaccine is given between 12 and 15 months, while the second dose is usually given between the ages of 4 and 6 years, according to the Mayo Clinic.
In adults, the measles vaccine is recommended in college students, travelers, and hospital workers who don’t have proof of immunity or haven’t had the disease in the past. People who’ve had measles won’t get the disease again.
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National Press Club and Philippine Dental Association awardee George N. True II has written two bestsellers based on his popular column which has been running for almost 40 years. For questions about health, email georgenavatrue@yahoo.com./PN
