BackThe undefeated measles virus
A distinctive feature of a civilised state is the care for the health of its citizens, which is carried out by a large-scale set of measures - in particular, through universal vaccination. In this article we will talk about the disease, vaccination against which a child is vaccinated twice: at 12 months and at 6 years of age. Nevertheless, this disease is not considered to be defeated - it is measles.
Measles is an acute infectious disease caused by a virus of the paramyxovirus family. The main feature of the disease is its extremely high contagiousness, i.e. contagiousness. The disease is transmitted by airborne droplets. It is important to remember that measles is considered one of the main causes of death in young children worldwide. Adults are much more susceptible to measles than children.
Clinically, the disease is manifested by an increase in body temperature to 40.50 C, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, upper respiratory tract and conjunctiva of the eyes. A specific patchy-papular rash appears on the skin.
A legitimate question is: If every child in our country is vaccinated, where does the infection come from? There are two answers to this question. Firstly, the virus is "imported" from foreign countries. Secondly, vaccination does not give lifelong immunity. Its validity is about 10 years, and after this period the person is again susceptible to the virus.
This explains the high mortality rate due to measles virus: 139,200 reported cases worldwide (according to WHO data for 2010).
It is not always possible to diagnose measles based on a single clinical picture, as there are atypical forms of measles: haemorrhagic, abortive, erased. There is a separate nosological form: "measles in vaccinated children".
However, there is a strictly specific method for diagnosing measles: determination of IgG and IgM antibodies to the measles virus in the blood. The tests are necessary to confirm the diagnosis of measles, especially in the case of measles-like or atypical forms.
IgM antibodies appear in the blood during the acute period of the disease - 5-6 days after the appearance of characteristic skin rashes (80% of patients), after 7 days - in 95% of patients. The peak concentration is observed after 2-3 weeks. Then their concentration remains at the same level for 4 weeks, then they are gradually removed from the bloodstream. In half of the patients IgM completely disappear 4 months after the onset of the disease. The test is prescribed when measles is suspected, and if it is positive, this fact confirms the diagnosis!
IgG antibodies to measles virus are detected in the body during the period of recollection (recovery), therefore, the detection of IgG at the end of the acute period of the disease is a favourable prognostic sign.
The aim of measles vaccination is to develop immunity against the pathogen, which is achieved by producing IgG, which destroys the virus. Based on the "life span" of these antibodies, immunity lasts for 10 years, after which re-vaccination is required. Their number can be used to judge the body's defence against measles, which is much more severe in older people than in adults. In adults, the disease is complicated by measles pneumonia (pneumonia of the lungs) and bacterial infection. Therefore, another purpose of the test is to decide whether vaccination should be repeated.
In conclusion, I would like to add that one of the strategies of the World Health Organisation is the elimination of measles by 2020, which requires not only the hard work of the medical sector, but also the responsible attitude of patients to their own health.
Attention! You can be tested for IgG and IgM antibodies to measles virus in any treatment room of the OLYMP CDL branches. The examination is performed on modern SIEMENS equipment.
Read also: 'Measles is a childhood infection with formidable complications'