Question

Download a research article on the topic about problems on measles, german measles and chicken pox (choose one) in the Philippines especially or anywhere else in any internet site. Submit a 200-300word essayreflection.

Answer 1

Problems on Measles:

The word Rubeola means red spots. Measles is an acute infectious disease of childhood

caused by a virus known as the Measles virus and characterised clinically by fever, cough, coryza, conjunctivitis and Koplik’s spots followed by generalised skin rashes, which appear on the 4th day of the illness. It causes high morbidity and mortality in developing countries.

The case fatality rate in hospitalised cases of measles alone is 4–8%. In developing countries, the case fatality rate ranges from 200 to 1500 as compared to less than 0.2 per 10,000 in developed countries. Studies in some parts of the country found out measles prevalence in under five population to the extent of 4–7%.

It is a highly contagious disease. It spreads very easily, constantly present in some populations and often occur in epidemic proportions. In conditions of crowding and poverty, where large numbers of non-immunised people are in close contact, it is easy to have outbreaks. The disease is more common between 9 months to 3 years of age.

Newborns and young infants are protected by maternal antibody transferred through placenta. Humans are the only reservoirs.

Measles vaccine coverage is comparatively poor amongst the UIP vaccines. Measles shows cyclic trend.

After an attack of Measles, malnutrition of the child occurs and if Measles occurs in malnourished child, it will be very dangerous.

Mode of spread: Droplet infection

Incubation period: 10 days

Sign and symptoms:

High fever

Running nose

Cough

Red and watery eyes

Koplik's spot

Rashedin face neck body and extremities

Loss of appetite

Management:

No specific anti viral drug.

Managed symptomatically.

Give vitamin A.

Feeding continued.

Treatment for dehydration with ORS.

Prevention:

1st dose: after 9 months

Store: 2°C to +8°C

Given: 9months to 12months

Number and amount of dose: 1st dose of 0.5ml

Where and how: subcutaneous layer of skin, upper right arm.

Side - effects:

*A mild fever and rash lasting one to three days may occur approximately a week after
immunisation.

--- Measles vaccine is very safe if reconstituted vaccine is used within 4 hours and
one sterilised syringe and needle is used for each injection. However, severe complications like convulsions have occurred in 0.02 to 190 per 1 lakh vaccinated individuals, compared with 500 to 4,000 per 1 lakh measles cases. Similarly,
encephalitis has been observed in 1 per 10 lakh vaccinated individuals, compared
to 500 to 4.000 per 10 lakh measles cases.
--There is always risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) due to growth of
Staphylococcus aureus. If the process of sterilisation is not followed strictly
during measles vaccination or if vaccine is used beyond 4 hours after
reconstitution. This is a programmatic error. All efforts should be made to
ensure that such programmatic errors do not occur. You should know that
programmatic error is responsible for 58% of the adverse events following
immunisation.