Measles Treatment Overview

The treatment of measles primarily focuses on supportive therapy, aiming to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications, and promote recovery. Since measles is a viral infectious disease, there are currently no specific antiviral medications that can directly kill the pathogen. Therefore, the treatment focuses on maintaining the patient's fluid balance, controlling fever, and managing respiratory symptoms. Healthcare providers will develop a personalized care plan based on the severity of the patient's condition and closely monitor for signs of serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis.

Treatment strategies need to combine pharmacological and non-pharmacological measures, emphasizing the importance of infection prevention. Home isolation, environmental ventilation, and personal hygiene are key to controlling the spread of the outbreak. During the acute phase, patients may require hospitalization, especially children, immunocompromised individuals, or those exhibiting severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing. Another critical aspect of treatment is enhancing the patient's immunity, such as through vitamin A supplementation to reduce the risk of severe disease, a therapy that has been incorporated into standard treatment protocols by health authorities in multiple countries.

Current Treatment Options

The current treatment strategies can be divided into two main directions: direct symptom relief and indirect prevention of complications. Symptom relief includes antipyretics to control body temperature, bronchodilators to improve airway obstruction, and topical eye drops to alleviate conjunctivitis. Indirect preventive measures encompass isolation protocols, environmental control, and nutritional support, such as providing a high-nutrient-density diet to replenish energy expenditure.

Core Principles of Symptom Management

Antipyretics: Use paracetamol or ibuprofen to control fever, strictly following dosage instructions.
Respiratory management: Use saline solution to humidify the air and assist in clearing nasal secretions.
Skin care: Regularly clean skin rashes and avoid scratching to prevent secondary infections.

Management of Complications

If pneumonia occurs, antibiotic treatment is required for secondary bacterial infections, while severe complications such as encephalitis need to be referred to an intensive care unit for monitoring. The medical community also recommends vision checks for all measles patients, as viral infections may lead to corneal damage, requiring collaboration with ophthalmologists for local medication treatment.

Pharmacological Treatment

Pharmacological treatment in measles management is mainly used to control symptoms and prevent complications. Vitamin A supplementation has been proven to reduce the severity and mortality, and the World Health Organization recommends starting it on the first day of symptom onset. For skin rashes and conjunctivitis that appear in the second week, physicians may prescribe topical corticosteroids or eye drops, but caution is needed to avoid the immunosuppressive risks that systemic corticosteroids may induce.

Antipyretics and Analgesics

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and paracetamol are common choices for antipyretics. When using them, attention should be paid to:

Pediatric dosages should be calculated based on weight to avoid excessive liver burden.
Avoid combining with other antipyretics to reduce the risk of drug overdose.

Limitations on Antibiotic Use

Antibiotics are only used when bacterial complications are confirmed, such as ear infections or pneumonia. Physicians will choose narrow-spectrum antibiotics based on culture results to avoid unnecessary use of broad-spectrum antibiotics that could lead to resistance issues. It is important to note that antibiotics are ineffective against viruses, and misuse may increase gastrointestinal discomfort and other side effects.

Non-Pharmacological Therapy

Non-pharmacological measures play a central role in treatment, especially isolation and environmental control measures. Well-ventilated hospital or home environments can reduce virus transmission while lowering the risk of airway obstruction. Physical cooling methods, such as tepid sponge baths, can supplement pharmacological treatment, but alcohol wipes should be avoided to prevent skin irritation.

Environmental Adjustment Strategies

Maintain indoor humidity at 40-60%, using humidifiers to improve airway patency.
Isolation measures should continue until the fourth day after the rash appears; contacts should receive vaccinations or immunoglobulin injections.
Provide adequate hydration, with a recommended daily intake of 10-15 c.c. per kilogram of body weight.

Nutritional Support Plans

Patients with high fever may experience malnutrition due to loss of appetite; it is recommended to adopt a principle of small, frequent meals and choose high-protein, high-vitamin diets. In special circumstances, nasogastric feeding may be used, but the patient's swallowing function should be assessed to avoid the risk of aspiration. Infants should continue breastfeeding to receive antibody protection, recommended to continue until symptoms resolve.

Lifestyle Management

Patients must strictly adhere to isolation regulations and avoid contact with unimmunized individuals. Daily care should include skin cleansing, eye moisturization, and temperature monitoring. During the recovery period, daily activities should be gradually resumed, avoiding early vigorous exercise that could lead to physical exhaustion. Family caregivers should wear masks and regularly clean contact surfaces to prevent virus transmission.

Home Care Key Points

Daily disinfection of frequently touched surfaces with chlorine-based cleaners.
Use a separate bathroom or disinfect immediately after use in shared environments.
Patient clothing should be washed separately, preferably using water above 60°C.

Activity Adjustments During Recovery

Avoid going to public places for at least two weeks after onset; wear an N95 mask when going out. The diet during recovery should gradually transition back to a normal diet, as early intake of high-fiber foods may induce diarrhea. Physicians may recommend assessing vaccination status after recovery to confirm whether immunity has been restored.

Future Treatment Directions

Current research focuses on the development of antiviral medications and immunomodulatory therapies. Several compounds that inhibit viral replication have been discovered in laboratories but have not yet entered human clinical trial phases. Gene therapy and monoclonal antibody treatments are also emerging research areas but remain in the basic research stage. Additionally, immunoglobulin prophylactic vaccination strategies for high-risk populations are being evaluated in multiple countries.

Emerging Biologics

Monoclonal antibody preparations may become key in future treatments, currently showing reduced viral load in animal experiments. This treatment method requires intravenous administration and may be used for severe patients or post-exposure prevention. However, its manufacturing costs and long-term immune effects require further study.

Vaccine Boosting Strategies

Next-generation vaccine development focuses on enhancing immune durability and broad-spectrum protection, including subunit vaccines and recombinant protein vaccine technologies. These new vaccines may reduce the immune waning phenomenon seen with existing vaccinations, but their effectiveness and safety must be confirmed through long-term follow-up studies.

When to Consult a Specialist

If high fever persists above 40°C, respiratory rate exceeds 30 breaths/minute, or there are changes in consciousness, immediate medical attention is required. If children experience tinnitus, ear pain, or hearing abnormalities, this may indicate complications such as otitis media and should be evaluated by an otolaryngologist. Immunocompromised patients should arrange for immunological assessments if symptoms persist for more than 7 days without improvement.

Appearance of purpura or subcutaneous bleeding: may indicate severe complications such as thrombocytopenic purpura.
Eye sensitivity to light or blurred vision: requires referral to ophthalmology for corneal damage assessment.
Persistent cough with difficulty breathing: may indicate viral pneumonia or secondary bacterial infection.

If contacts were exposed to a patient within 14 days of vaccination, they should seek medical evaluation for the necessity of immunoglobulin administration. Pregnant women or those with immunodeficiency diseases should seek immediate medical attention for any suspected symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions

What safe antipyretics can be used if a high fever occurs after measles infection? During measles infection, antipyretics such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used to relieve symptoms. However, aspirin should be avoided as it may induce Reye's syndrome, causing severe liver and kidney damage in children and adolescents. Consultation with a physician is recommended before taking medication and adjusting dosages as instructed. Do measles patients need special booster vaccinations after recovery? Individuals who have had measles and recovered typically develop lifelong immunity, so no additional vaccinations are needed. However, if they were previously vaccinated and later contracted the disease, it is advisable to discuss immunization records with a physician to confirm whether a booster is necessary to ensure protection. This is especially important for those with compromised immunity, who may require more stringent follow-up. How can effective prevention of household transmission be achieved when caring for a measles patient? Patients should be isolated for four days after the rash appears, and contacts should wear medical masks and wash their hands frequently. The environment should be well-ventilated, and sharing utensils should be avoided. Patient clothing and bed linens should be washed separately. If there are unimmunized individuals in the household (such as infants or immunocompromised patients), immediate medical evaluation should be sought to assess the need for post-exposure vaccination or immunoglobulin. Why is the effect of antiviral drugs on measles limited? Measles is caused by a virus, and there are currently no effective antiviral drugs that can directly kill the virus. Treatment primarily consists of supportive care, such as hydration, antipyretics, and prevention of complications. New antiviral medications (such as ribavirin) are only used in immunocompromised patients or in cases of severe complications, and their effectiveness varies from person to person, requiring strict evaluation by a physician before use. When should immunoglobulin be administered after suspected exposure to a measles patient? Administering measles immunoglobulin within 72 hours of exposure can reduce the risk of developing the disease or lessen symptoms. This measure is applicable for infants under 12 months who have been exposed, pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals, or those who have been exposed but have not completed their vaccinations. However, immunoglobulin only provides short-term protection, and vaccinations should still be administered on schedule to establish long-term immunity after exposure.

Measles