By late 20s or later, most of us may have already forgotten that time in our childhood when we were forced to absent from school because of measles. I particularly remember missing a stage performance in the drama club's major presentation because of measles infection. I was bedridden for a couple of days because of high fever. My mom imposed a strictly-in-your-room-only policy so as not to get worse and to get the longest rest I can. Measles, more than an infectious disease, is more commonly remembered by most of us as a memorable period in our childhood. Rashes all over the body makes us feel like we have been bewitched or cursed by some unseen evil forces; having measles is one nightmare to (hopefully not) remember.



Rarely known as rubeola, measles is more popularly known as a disease characterized by fever, runny nose, red eyes, cough, and an uncontrollable skin rash spread. The virus paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus is the main culprit behind this irritating disease. The term measles is of middle English origin "maselen," which means "many tiny spots". It is in reference to the rash, which is the most obvious manifestation of being infected with measles. Rubeola, on the other hand, is in reference to the reddish color of the body rash.

The duration of measles varies from one case to another. Others who have it longer than the usual would often times call it in reference to its duration: seven-day measles, eight-day measles, and so on and so forth.

Measles is extremely contagious-- the reason moms impose solitary confinement-- through respiration. Being exposed or having direct contact with fluids from infected people's oral cavities and nasal cavities is the most commonly known mode of transmission from one person to another. Being one of the highly transmittable and infectious diseases, epidemics are reported to be occurring at least every two to three years. Epidemic concentration is very high in areas where there are no enough immunization programs. However, despite having a very wide immunization scheme, America is still not free from measles epidemic, especially in preschools and communities of high children population. In 2002, at least 600,000 deaths from measles all over the world were recorded by the World Health Organization. Although the figure is way smaller than, say, cancer or other deadly diseases, measles is not a matter to be taken for granted. It's highly contagious character is already a solid reason people must take proactive measures on how to avoid it and limit its spread.

Before rashes appear, symptoms like cough, red eyes, runny nose, and fever would manifest. About two days after, Koplik's spot (spots in mouth area) appear, along with soar throat and inflamed airways. Up to five days later, rashes then begin to appear from head all the way to the toes. Rashes start as abnormal bumps, which eventually get bigger and more annoying. As they go down, rashes in the face usually subside. Bleeding and bruising happen in cases of severe primary or secondary infection. The disease's end comes with the ending of rashes' spread.

Measles per se is not necessarily deadly. It only becomes fatal when certain complications are not avoided. Bacterial infections such as ear infections, pneumonia, and tuberculosis are the common complications. If not attended immediately and properly, measles infection may deteriorate the body's immune system and lead to continuous complications. The brain can also be affected and get inflamed (encephalitis) and may lead to more harmful events like convulsions, coma, or even death. Other complications can be in the form of abnormally low platelet count (making a patient more vulnerable to secondary infections) and the very dreadful Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, wherein mental abnormalities and motor deficiencies are milder effects than the usual death.

Unfortunately, there exists no cure to measles. The treatments available are aimed at treating the symptoms alone and not the viral infection, specifically. To fight off the fever, higher fluid intake--12-16 glasses everyday-- is highly recommended. For runny nose and cough, a good room humidity level is helpful. Humidifying the air can help get rid of the cough. When one is infected with measles, the eyes are usually at a great risk of acquiring secondary infections due to itching and discharges. Keeping the eyes clean by washing them with clean water and avoiding high intensity-light exposure can help avoid eye infections. For overall recovery, a blissful bed rest is highly needed. The best way parents can save their kids from the perils of measles is having them immunized with the MRR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. Immunization should be given sometime at 12 to 15 months of age (first dose) and at age 4 to 6 years (second dose). Consultation of experts throughout childhood is also advised.