Edit There is no specific treatment for measles. Most patients with uncomplicated measles will recover with rest and supportive treatment. It is, however, important to seek medical advice if the patient becomes more unwell, as they may be developing complications. Some patients will develop pneumonia as a sequel to the measles. Other complications include ear infections, bronchitis, and encephalitis.[47] Acute measles encephalitis has a mortality rate of 15%. While there is no specific treatment for measles encephalitis, antibiotics are required for bacterial pneumonia, sinusitis, and bronchitis that can follow measles. All other treatment addresses symptoms, with ibuprofen or paracetamol to reduce fever and pain and, if required, a fast-acting bronchodilator for cough. As for aspirin, some research has suggested a correlation between children who take aspirin and the development of Reye syndrome.[48] Some research has shown aspirin may not be the only medication associated with Reye, and even antiemetics have been implicated,[49] with the point being the link between aspirin use in children and Reyes syndrome development is weak at best, if not actually nonexistent.[48][50] Nevertheless, most health authorities still caution against the use of aspirin for any fevers in children under 16.[51][52][53][54] The use of vitamin A in treatment has been investigated. A systematic review of trials into its use found no significant reduction in overall mortality, but it did reduce mortality in children aged under two years.[55][56][57] A specific drug treatment for measles ERDRP-0519 has shown promising results in animal studies, but has not yet been tested in humans.[58][59][60] PrognosisEdit The majority of patients survive measles, though in some cases, complications may occur, which may include bronchitis, and—in about 1 in 100,000 cases[61]—panencephalitis, which is usually fatal.[62] The patient may spread the disease to an immunocompromised patient, for whom the risk of death is much higher, due to complications such as giant cell pneumonia. Acute measles encephalitis is another serious risk of measles virus infection. It typically occurs two days to one week after the breakout of the measles exanthem and begins with very high fever, severe headache, convulsions and altered mentation. A patient may become comatose, and death or brain injury may occur.[
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 08:16:09 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015