What is measles and why is it dangerous – Picture of the Day – Kommersant

April 12 Rospotrebnadzor sent students of the Russian State University of Oil and Gas for distance learning for 21 days. The cause was an outbreak of measles. From April 12 to April 16, the university announced holidays during which students must be vaccinated against the disease. What is known about measles – in the material “Kommersant”.

Measles is an acute infectious disease that is equally severe in both children and adults. It is transmitted by airborne droplets. In the course of the disease, a person has a fever, temperature up to 40 degrees, conjunctivitis, sore throat. On the third or fourth day, a red spotted rash appears on the skin. It keeps all over the body for five to seven days, then gradually disappears. The person remains contagious for the first eight days of illness.

Complications are considered the main danger of measles, severe forms appear in about 25% of cases. Some complications, such as severe pneumonia, false croup, encephalitis, otitis media, and pyelonephritis, are fatal. In addition, after suffering measles, a person has a reduced immunity for a long time, which is why he is more likely to contract another infection, which will also be severe.

There are no separate drugs for measles. Antiviral drugs do not work on her. Doctors prescribe antibiotics only when complications occur.

However, there is a vaccine that can prevent the disease. In Russia, this vaccine is given free of charge to children at the age of one. Revaccination is carried out at the age of six. Later, only citizens under 35 years of age who have not previously had measles, who have not been vaccinated in a timely manner, or who have been vaccinated once, can receive it. Such people can go to the hospital for free vaccinations. In addition, vaccination can be obtained according to epidemiological indications after contact with an infected person. Other citizens can be vaccinated on a paid basis.

According to WHO, in the first eight months of 2022, more than 155.5 thousand cases of measles were registered in 153 countries, and deaths were noted. During the outbreak of measles in Russia in 2019, 3521 cases of the disease were recorded.