Measles in children: a re-emergence of the vaccine-preventable disease

Abstract

Despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine, measles remains an endemic in many countries and is the main cause of morbidity and mortality among young children. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to describe the most important aspects of measles that allow clinicians to identify suspected cases for timely diagnosis and treatment, which are essential to avoid inappropriate interventions and prevent complications. The measles virus is highly contagious, is transmitted through fomites and respiratory secretions, and remains active in the environment or on surfaces for several hours. Diagnosing measles can be difficult because most clinicians are unfamiliar as there have been few confirmed cases in recent years. Taking a complete medical history, while considering the clinical phases of measles, and a thorough physical examination can help guide the diagnosis, as the main characteristics of measles (fever and rash) can be seen in both infectious and non-infectious diseases. Treatment consists of three fundamental aspects: supportive care (management of fever and hydration), identification and treatment of associated complications, and prevention of disease spread through patient and family group education. It is important to ensure compliance with immunization policies and strategies globally to control the re-emergence of measles and increase in the burden of disease caused by the measles virus.