Measles medical therapy
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: João André Alves Silva, M.D. [2]
Overview
Despite the efforts made in the past years to develop a treatment regimen for measles, there is still no specific antiviral therapy for uncomplicated cases of measles, however, some drugs such as ribavirin and interferon-α have been used in the more severe cases of the condition, notably for cases of infection of the CNS by the virus. Yet, there is evidence that the administration of two doses of vitamin A in children, under the age of two, was associated with a reduced risk of morbidity and mortality from the disease. For most patients with measles, the standard treatment is focused on supportive care.[1][2][3]
Medical Therapy
According to current data, there is no antiviral therapy for measles infection and standard treatment is focused on supportive care. However, additional therapies have been used successfully to achieve a reduction in morbidity and mortality by measles infection. These Include:[1]
Supportive Care
Severe complications from measles can be avoided though supportive care that ensures good nutrition, adequate fluid intake and treatment of dehydration with WHO-recommended oral rehydration solution. This solution replaces fluids and other essential elements that are lost through diarrhoea or vomiting.[4]
Vitamin A
All children in developing countries diagnosed with measles should receive two doses of vitamin A supplements, given 24 hours apart. This treatment restores low vitamin A levels during measles that occur even in well-nourished children and can help prevent eye damage and blindness. Vitamin A supplements have been shown to reduce the number of deaths from measles by 50%.[4]
Antiviral Therapies
Case reports have noted the in vitro susceptibility of measles virus to ribavirin. Ribavirin, in parallel with other drugs, such as interferon-α have been used in more severe cases of measles, specially when in the presence of CNS infection.[1][3]
Antibiotics
Antibiotics should be prescribed to treat eye and ear infections, and pneumonia.[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Moss, William J; Griffin, Diane E (2012). "Measles". The Lancet. 379 (9811): 153–164. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(10)62352-5. ISSN 0140-6736.
- ↑ Huiming Y, Chaomin W, Meng M (2005). "Vitamin A for treating measles in children". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (4): CD001479. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001479.pub3. PMID 16235283.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Reuter D, Schneider-Schaulies J (2010). "Measles virus infection of the CNS: human disease, animal models, and approaches to therapy". Med Microbiol Immunol. 199 (3): 261–71. doi:10.1007/s00430-010-0153-2. PMID 20390298.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Measles".