Measles shows signs of increasing during Tet, how to take care of children with measles at home?

GĐXH - Measles is showing signs of increasing in some localities, doctors give instructions on caring for children with measles at home.

Symptoms of measles in children

In recent days, the measles situation has shown signs of increasing in some provinces and cities, especially near the Lunar New Year 2025. Many children, especially young children who have not been vaccinated or have not been fully vaccinated, have had to be hospitalized in critical condition due to complications of measles.

Measles is highly contagious and has many dangerous complications. Anyone who is not immune can be infected. Dangerous complications of measles include: pneumonia, otitis media, encephalomyelitis, myocarditis, corneal ulcers, diarrhea, etc.

According to MSc.Dr. Tran Thi Xuyen - Center for Tropical Diseases (National Children's Hospital), measles is an acute infectious disease caused by a virus of the paramyxovirus family. The disease occurs mainly in children under 5 years old, often occurring in winter and spring. The disease is transmitted through the respiratory tract, easily causing epidemics. The disease is common in children who have not been vaccinated against measles, or are not fully vaccinated.

In the initial stage, children often have high fever, continuous fever from 39 degrees Celsius. Accompanied by symptoms of pharyngitis: Watery eyes, conjunctivitis, red eyes; Runny nose, sneezing; Cough, frequent coughing, hoarseness. Koplik's sign: Appears on the second day of fever. White/gray manifestation with raised red rash on the surface of the cheek mucosa (inside the mouth, at the level of the upper jaw teeth).

Full-blown stage: Rash appears; Rash appears in order: behind the ears, nape, forehead, face, trunk, legs. Rash characteristics: not itchy, purple-red, round, papular, disappears when skin is stretched.

In the remission phase, the rash gradually fades to gray, dark scales flake off, leaving tiger-striped marks that disappear in the same order they appeared.

Children with measles, parents need to pay special attention to home care (illustrative photo).

How to care for children with measles at home

Isolate sick children in a separate room, ensure the room is airy, has enough sunlight, open the door to the sunlight between 10am - 4pm every day. Clean the children's room daily, clean the surface of the table and cabinet containing child care items with a surface disinfectant solution.

Monitor the child's temperature, use paracetamol to reduce fever when the child has a fever ≥ 38.5 degrees Celsius or ≥ 38 degrees Celsius (for children with a history of convulsions) with a dose of 10-15mg/kg every 4-6 hours.

Clean eyes 3-5 times/day with saline solution. Apply eye drops as prescribed by your doctor (if any).

Spray nasal saline solution 3-5 times/day. If there is a lot of nasal discharge, you can use a hand-held nasal aspirator to suck it out for your child.

Clean teeth and mouth 2-3 times/day with saline. Bathe your baby daily with warm water in a closed bathroom, away from drafts. Do not arbitrarily apply skin care products of unknown ingredients to your baby's skin.

Improve nutrition: Actively breastfeed your baby, feed your baby liquid foods that are easy to digest and drink plenty of water. Actively supplement foods rich in Vitamin A such as: eel, eggs, fish, milk, red, yellow or orange fruits and vegetables, etc. Take medication as prescribed and return for follow-up visits as scheduled by your doctor.

Notes when caring for children with measles, Caregivers: Always wear a mask while caring for children. Wash hands with soap before and after preparing milk, feeding children, cleaning children's eyes, nose, mouth and after changing diapers, etc. The isolation period is from when measles is suspected until at least 4 days after the rash begins.

Re-examine immediately if the child shows the following symptoms: Lethargy, poor feeding, poor appetite, refusal to feed; Vomiting a lot, diarrhea, loose stools; Difficulty breathing, rapid breathing; Increased cough, continuous cough; High fever that does not go down with fever reducer; Fever after rash is gone; Convulsions, coma.

Actively prevent measles by vaccinating children

- Apply 3-dose measles vaccination schedule:

1st dose: Single measles injection for children from 9 months old.

2nd dose: Measles - Mumps - Rubella (MMR) vaccine for children from 12 months old (at least 1 month after single measles dose).

3rd dose: MMR vaccine given 3 years after the 2nd dose or when the child is 4-6 years old.

For areas with measles outbreaks or areas at high risk of measles, administer the first dose of vaccine to children from 6 months of age and administer subsequent doses as recommended by the expanded immunization program.

- Apply 2-dose vaccination schedule: Children from 12 months - 7 years old.

Dose 1: MMR vaccine for children from 12 months old. Dose 2: MMR vaccine is given 3 months after dose 1. The timing of subsequent measles doses depends on the country of manufacture and the age of the child.

Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/benh-soi-co-dau-hieu-gia-tang-dip-tet-cham-soc-tre-mac-benh-tai-nha-nhu-the-nao-172250114154341695.htm