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Momodou
Denmark
11787 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Oct 2007 : 17:53:03
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HEALTH AND NUTRITION BANTABA
Amadou Sowe Dilates On Measles
By Yaya Bajo
Mr. Amadou Sowe, Programme Manager Health Education Unit at the Department of State for Health and Social welfare, has categorised measles as one of the most contagious viral diseases, caused by paramyxo virus. He said that measles is the most unpleasant and the most dangerous of the children’s diseases that result in body rash due to the complications.
In an interview with Foroyaa in his office recently, Mr. Sowe, explaining the mode of transmission of the disease, said droplets transfer the infections and, noting that although the sick person may be in isolation, the disease may still spread from room to room. “Anybody who has not already had measles can be infected and infants up to four months of age will not be infected if their mother has had measles herself because they will be protected by her antibodies”, he remarked. He added that the incubation period, that is, the time between infection and the outbreak of the condition is usually one to two weeks. “Patients are infectious from four days before the onset of the rash until five days after it appears,” he divulged.
The health education unit programme manager further spoke about the symptoms of measles, saying that after about 14 days, the following symptoms start showing: a fever at about 39ºC, a cold; coughing possibly with a barking cough; sore throat-the lymph nodes in the throat may swell; reddish eyes, sensitivity to light and grayish spots; the size of grains of sand may appear in the mucous membrane of the mouth just around the molar teeth. He said these are called koplik’s spots and can be seen before the rash appears.
Mr. Sowe further explained that after three to four days the temperature may fall, although it can run high again when the rash appears. “The rash usually begins around the ears and spreads to the body and the legs within a day or two. At first, the spots are very small, measuring a couple of millimetres, but they double in size quickly and begin to join together,” he explained. He said that the spots are a clear red colour and the temperature, which may run as high as 40ÚC, may stay that high for a couple of days; that it then disappears together with the rash, which may leave some brown spots; that after a week the child will be fit again.
Mr. Sowe pointed out that children who have had measles cannot return to school or childcare centres before they recover and when the temperature is gone. He advised that the doctor should give children under the age of one who are exposed to the disease an immunity injection within five days. On the treatment of measles, Sowe said the patient should stay in bed in a cool room without any brightly lit light. He added that medicines for coughing and reducing the temperature should only be given after consulting a medical worker. He said the doctor should be consulted immediately if the condition of the child gets worse or the temperature stays high. Mr. Sowe finally noted that the doctor must make sure there are no further complications such as pneumonia, inflammation of the middle ear (otitis media), or inflammation of the nervous system. He concluded that once a person had had measles, they can never catch it again as the disease gives life long immunity.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 126/2007, 26 – 28 October 2007
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