An extremely contagious infectious disease, measles is caused by a virus from the Paramyxoviridae family. In babies, the pathology causes symptoms that can lead to serious complications. Medical care and increased monitoring are necessary for toddlers who do not yet have vaccination coverage. How to detect measles in babies early?
1. Warning signs of measles in babies
Contrary to popular belief, measles is not just a simple rash that will gradually affect the entire body. The pathology first begins with more general manifestations – such as rhinorrhea, cough or conjunctivitis – which will be associated with a high fever (39/40°C). Measles has a relatively long incubation, since the time between contamination by the virus and the appearance of the first signs is, on average, between 7 and 14 days, depending on The MSD Manual for Professionals. The first signs last for three to four days, before giving way to the famous rash. The patient is contagious for the 5 days preceding its appearance, and the 5 days following.
2. Skin symptoms of measles in babies
The rash is one of the most characteristic clinical signs of measles. However, several other childhood pathologies can cause similar symptoms, such as chickenpox or roseola. However, a doctor or pediatrician can quickly establish a distinction. For example, the blisters caused by chickenpox will primarily appear on the face and thorax; while those of measles initially occur on the face, before gradually moving down. In terms of appearance, measles spots will be darker than roseola spots, but lighter than chickenpox spots.
3. How to prevent measles in babies?
Practically eradicated in France thanks to effective vaccination coverage, measles made a comeback in 2019. Faced with a significant increase in cases, the public authorities immediately reacted by making the measles vaccine compulsory for all children born. from January 1, 2018, with a first dose administered at 12 months, and a second between 16 and 18 months. For this highly contagious pathology to be fully eliminated, the immunization rate of the population must reach 95%, which is not the case today. However, measles is far from being a benign viral disease. It can have significant repercussions on certain populations at risk, such as infants under one year old, or even pregnant women, who cannot benefit from vaccination.
Sources
- Measles, Dr. Brenda L. Tesini, The MSD Manual – Healthcare Professional Version, May 2023
- Measles: what you need to know, Montreal Children’s Hospital