An Essay Explaining Measles Disease

An essay explaining measles disease
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Introduction
Mention of the word measles triggers negative memories to a person who had the infection previously. Measles is a viral infection. Coughing and skin rash are the first Signs and symptoms of measles though the disease also leads to inflamed eyes, sore throat, and runny nose. The infection is common to young children between one and for years Toole et al., (1989). However, any person can get infected if, not vaccinated before. . Once you become infected with measles, it is very rare to advance the infection again in the forthcoming since your body builds up resistance to the virus.
Background
History of Measles Before and After the Vaccine EraMeasles was first discovered in 9th century with little information about it. As portrayed by Toole et al., (1989), in 1757, a Scottish physician saw that measles is caused by an infectious agent found in blood of victims of measles disease. Prior to 1912, reported cases of measles were minimal. It was then in around 1912measles was declared a national disaster in United States. Escalating number of Reported cases from healthcare providers and laboratories diagnosis made measles be a nationally notifiable disease. During the first decade of reporting, an average of 6000 measles-related deaths was reported every year. According to Toole et al., (1989), Measles was among the top ten infections causing high mortality rates. In 1963, nearly every children got measles before they could even reach 15 years. Though it occurred in a varying magnitude. However, measles came close to zero infections in most of the developed countries when vaccine was introduced in 1963.Measles vaccine was then improved and licensed in 1968. MMR is the only vaccine that is still used even to the present day.
Measles infection rate dropped significantly after the introduction of vaccine CDC (2013). Most of the developed countries have insignificant reported cases of measles infection. In United States, the reported cases of measles were 65 with a majority being people coming from other countries. The diseases, however, are still prevalent in some of the underdeveloped countries since an average of 20 million cases happens worldwide annually.
Types of Measles and Symptoms of Measles
Measles occur in two different types being caused by various viruses. Though they both result in rash and fever, they are very different. They include: Rubeola virus causing red measles also known as hard measles. Though many people get well from this type of infection, it can lead to pneumonia or encephalitis that brain inflammation; rubella virus causing German measles also known as three-day measles. Voller (1976) stipulate that German measles is a milder disease as compared with the red measles though it has significant effects if transmitted by an infected pregnant woman to an unborn child. Measles is widely known for its full body rash symptoms. The onset signs of measles infections are hacking coughing, high fever, and red eyes. Young people and little children who get the infection are likely to have kolpik's spots that are small red with blue-white centers Voller (1976). The spots appear in the mouth. Measles rash appear after three to fi...