With the recent trend in opting out of vaccination for one’s children, there has been a worrying increase in the outbreak of diseases that were once thought to be almost extinct.
As it stands, the United States has recently reported having about 118 people infected with measles all over the country.
At first glance, this number may not seem to be something to worry about.
Many more people fall ill with other kinds of sickness in larger numbers than this.
For health experts and doctors however, these cases are alarming, as the number of people infected with the virus has grown from last year.
In other words, this situation may only get worse.
As of present, information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that already 21 states have been affected by this outbreak.
These states are as follows – Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Washington – including the District of Columbia -, Oklahoma, New York, Kansas, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Michigan, Maryland, Illinois, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Jersey, Florida, Nevada, Indiana, Missouri, Indiana.
For those who do not know what measles are, a news account from CNN covering the measles outbreak in the U.S. explains it as a contagious virus that can be spread through airborne means, such as via coughing or sneezing.
Its symptoms include rashes that appear all over the body, high fever, reddened eyes, and stuffy nose.
Although the symptoms normally disappear within two or three weeks without the intervention of treatment, the CDC reports that about one or two children out of every 1,000 infected with the disease will die of complications.
As you may have noticed, measles itself is not always fatal. However, it paves the way for infections that can cause complications.
Some of the complications that are often associated with the virus include the likes of vomiting, eye, ear, and respiratory tract infections (with the ear infections carrying the potential to cause permanent hearing loss), diarrhea, and seizures.
Weakened immune systems as a result of other preexisting health conditions such as leukemia, AIDS, and HIV can make these complications more likely and its effects more severe.
Age is also a huge factor, with infants and adults that are over the age of 20 experiencing increased complication risks.
This means that for patients who are already ill with illnesses like pneumonia, the complications measles can bring about may make their case fatal.
There is currently no treatment specifically designed to treat measles. Additionally, because it is a virus, antibiotics pose no effect.
It is only when other bacterial infections develop can antibiotics be administered.
Instead, all that can be done once infected with the virus is to ensure the patient has plenty of bed rest and is well-hydrated.
Complications can be dealt with on a case-by-case basis as they arise.
What is highly alarming is how the virus’ incubation period is about 9 to 11 days.
This means that for about almost 2 weeks, an infected person will have no signs of the infection, making it easy for them to spread the virus to various other people who are more vulnerable to the disease.
Thankfully, vaccination can help prevent this from the onset, protecting your loved ones and those you interact with.
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