Children with measles: Danger signs should be taken to the hospital immediately

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with Master, Doctor Doan Ngoc Quynh - Pediatrician - Pediatric Center - Vinmec Times City International Hospital.
Measles is an acute infectious disease caused by a virus. The initial symptoms of the disease are usually fever, cough, runny nose, etc., so many parents easily ignore it because it is confused with the common cold. However, the carelessness of parents before measles can lead to serious consequences for children: children develop serious complications because they do not receive timely medical care.

1. Why does measles develop quickly and severely?

As for measles, the Ministry of Health has confirmed that this is a disease that usually occurs in winter and spring. However, in the last few years, measles has occurred almost all year round. Measles virus is transmitted through respiratory droplets from an infected person to a healthy person when an infected person sneezes, coughs or talks,... Measles is very contagious in crowded areas such as kindergartens, schools, and residential areas. ,... Therefore, measles has a very high risk of outbreaks into epidemics.
Measles is common in young children - the age group has low resistance. After contracting measles, the body's immune response will decrease, so children are more likely to experience dangerous complications such as encephalitis, pneumonia, otitis media, diarrhea,... Even, there have been In many cases, children with measles died because they did not receive timely medical care.
Early disease detection and appropriate medical care play an extremely important role in minimizing possible complications in patients with measles.

2. How does measles manifest?

Children infected with measles usually have an incubation period of 7-21 days. The child may then have all of the following symptoms:
Fever over 39°C. Inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, prolonged dry cough, hoarseness, runny nose, with Koplik particles in the mouth. Measles rash. Measles rash develops in the following order: first day on the head, face, neck; the second day grows on the back, chest and arms; On the third day a rash develops on the abdomen, buttocks, thighs and legs. When the rash reaches the feet, the fever will go away and the rash will begin to fade.

3. When to take children to medical facilities?

Measles can lead to many dangerous complications if not treated promptly. And if the child has the following symptoms, the parents should take the child to the nearest medical facility immediately:
Continuous high fever 39 - 40oC. Children have difficulty breathing, shortness of breath. Baby is tired, doesn't eat, doesn't play, has difficulty concentrating. A rash all over the body, but the fever has not gone down.

To reduce the risk of measles becoming worse, parents should have their children vaccinated against measles to reduce the spread of disease. Vinmec is one of the hospitals that provides vaccines to prevent infectious diseases, including measles vaccine with standards and health safety standards for customers.
Vinmec International General Hospital provides customers with a package vaccination program from children to adults with full benefits and attached services. In December 2019, Vinmec offers a special promotion for customers who buy a package of 0-1 years old, 0-2 years old will receive a free shot of Hepatitis B Vaccine (injected immediately after birth). birth) for the baby.

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