NaturalMedications

Home Medications and Treatments for Measles

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness characterized by a fever, cough, conjunctivitis, and spreading rash.  It is one of the leading causes of death in young children. It is so common at this stages of life that nearly all children in most parts of the world suffer from it.

Jump to - Symptoms, Causes , Treatment, Other suggestions

Symptoms of Measles

About 10-14 days after you are infected with measles, you will begin to show symptoms. This is called the incubation period.
The early phase then begins with these symptoms:
o Fever
o A rundown feeling
o Cough
o Red eyes (conjunctivitis)
o Runny nose
The red measles rash develops from 2-4 days later. The rash usually starts on your head. Over the next 3 days, the rash spreads to cover your entire body. The rash is initially small red bumps that may blend into each other as more appear.  Often you may develop grayish spots, called Koplik spots, on the inside of your mouth just before the rash appears. The rash is usually not itchy.

Causes of Measles

Measles is an infection caused by a virus, in contrast to an infection caused by bacteria.  The measles virus is contagious, which means the infection can be spread from person to person. When an infected person sneezes or coughs, the very small droplets of water that person expels carry the virus within them. These droplets have the potential to infect anyone who may come into contact with them.  Occasionally, the virus spreads through the air and not by droplets.  Symptoms usually begin 8-12 days after exposure, and the rash appears about 14 days after exposure. People are contagious—they can spread the disease—1-2 days before any symptoms appear (3-5 days before appearance of the rash) and continue to be contagious until 4-5 days after the rash starts.

Treatment Of Measles

Orange:

• Drink plenty of liquids.
• Eat a soft, bland diet.

Other effective Remedies for Measles

The child should be kept in a well-ventilated room. As light has a detrimental effect upon the eyes during measles because of the weakened condition of the external eye tissues, the child should have his eyes shaded or the room should have subdued light.

The treatment should aim at bringing down the temperature and eliminating the toxins from the system. This can be achieved by administration of a warm-water enema every morning, application of mudpacks on the abdomen twice a day - in the morning and evening, and repeated application of chest packs. Lukewarm water baths can be given every day to ease itching. Addition of extracts of neem leaves to this water will prove beneficial.

Children having measles should not be allowed to mix with others so as to avoid passing on the infection to them. In fact, they should take complete rest. Hygienic conditions, along with the above-mentioned treatment, will lead to a speedy recovery. Medication should be strictly avoided.

Got a question ask it on the Measles Forum. Or share your knowledge with others at the Measles Forum