Measles

 Written by: Muhammad Arif Rahimi

According to the information provided by the Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan, each weak about 9-10 children suffering from measles are taken to the mentioned hospital for treatment. Some of them pass away due to this disease.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some people and a doctor about the signs, symptoms, and treatment of measles.

 A mother from Kabul province says, “My son got measles. He cannot be breastfed, if I feed him, he vomits; he also suffers from shortage of breath and his whole body is covered with small rashes and we think that he would not survive.”

Another mother, a resident of Maidan-Wardak province says, “My son has gotten measles. At the beginning, he was suffering from fever, and later small rashes appeared first on his belly and then on his whole body. Some of our relatives told us that he has gotten measles but we did not take him to a doctor. There are 14 children live in our home. This disease transmitted to 6 of them and some other children outside of our home also got measles from my son.”

Doctor Allah Muhammad Khairkhwa, a physician at one of the private hospitals in Kabul city says, “The first symptoms of a measles infection are usually a hacking cough, runny nose, high fever, and red eyes. Kids also might have small red spots with blue-white centers inside the mouth before the rash starts. If this disease is not treated on time, the child might suffer from severe pneumonia; diarrhea and vomiting; lethargy, and faint and he/she might be threatened by death.

If parent treats their children, the patient's fever will reduce on the 7th day and the sick child will get back his/her health gradually.”

What do some parents think about the causes of measles?

A woman who doesn’t want to introduce herself, says, “My son was suffering from fever for 2 days and after 2 days, small rashes appeared on his body and when I took him to the hospital, they diagnosed him that he has gotten measles. And the cause of his measles is not applying his measles vaccine.”

Muhammad Shafiq, a resident of Maidan-Wardak province says, “If parents do not apply measles vaccine to their children, these children might get measles.”

Doctor Khairkhwa says, “The main cause of measles is a virus which exists in the environment and this virus first attacks on the throat and it spreads to the whole body and transfers to other children who are in touch with the patient. Share dishes, clothes, and share toothbrushes could also transfer this virus to healthy children.

The child with a severe fever should be taken to the hospital for treatment; separate them from healthy children; the parent should prevent them from using share dishes, towels, clothes, and other items and they should apply the childhood vaccines to their children including measles vaccine.

Children infected with the measles virus should be fed by fresh fruits; hot liquids and Nutritious foods and pay attention to their hygiene