Measles Research Paper

Measles is an infectious disease caused by a type of virus in the class of viruses, paramyxoviruses. With measles, a blotchy red rash develops on the patient, starting at the head and typically moves down the body. Many symptoms are found to be a part of this disease, including fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, and tiny white spots developing inside of the mouth (“Measles: MedlinePlus,” n.d.). The vaccination rates for the measles vaccines have increased throughout the years, which has lowered measles cases; however, it is important to continue vaccinating against measles in order to lessen the number of future outbreaks. Humans are the only reservoirs of measles currently known. In addition, humans are also the only vectors of this disease. Measles is transmitted through airborne or droplet transmission (“Measles: Clinical,” n.d.). While this disease can be easily transmitted, the incidence of measles has significantly decreased through the years. In the 1950s, each year, an average of 500,000 cases occurred in the United States, including around 500 deaths related to this disease. In addition, at this time, 95% of the …show more content…
A Dacron nasopharyngeal swab can be examined in addition to a blood test. This blood test tests for the Measles IgM antibody (“Measles: Clinical,” n.d.). Generally, the prognosis is similar for each case, and once the disease has passed, the patient is protected against contracting it again. On the other hand, certain cases of measles have severe complications, which may lead to long-term problems; these situations vary from case-to-case. With that being said, there is no treatment for measles. Typically, the virus will run its course for 10-14 days after the initial infection. While there is no treatment for measles, symptoms can be lessened and treated with acetaminophen, bed rest, and various other medications (“Measles,”