Many adults infected with measles are in critical condition.

Measles complications are unpredictable.

At the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Bach Mai Hospital, doctors are actively treating a 51-year-old male patient (Gia Lam, Hanoi) with measles. This man, who had diabetes and bronchial asthma, was hospitalized with a diagnosis of measles. Despite treatment, after 5 days, the patient had increasing difficulty breathing, had to be intubated, had a ventilator, had atrial fibrillation, cardiovascular disorders, and was at risk of serious complications.

A case of measles with critical complications.

Another case is a 28-year-old female patient (Hai Hau, Nam Dinh), 8 weeks pregnant, admitted to the hospital with intermittent high fever, chills, muscle aches, and a red rash spreading from the face to the neck, chest, and abdomen. In addition, the patient had a dry cough, sore throat, and 4 watery stools a day, without abdominal pain. The patient treated herself with fever reducers at home, but her condition did not improve. Upon admission to the hospital, the patient was diagnosed with measles with bacterial superinfection, and was monitored for pneumonia, with a high risk of affecting the mother and fetus.

Previously, the Institute of Tropical Medicine also received a 38-year-old male patient (Gia Lam, Hanoi) with severe pneumonia, respiratory failure, and complications due to measles. The patient was healthy, a smoker but had no lung disease. The patient's condition progressed rapidly, only one day later he had a fever of 39 degrees, a rash from his face spread to his hands and body. Coughing up white phlegm, sore throat and difficulty breathing gradually increased, respiratory failure, severe pneumonia requiring oxygen when transferred. At Bach Mai Hospital, the patient with severe acute respiratory failure required intensive care, mechanical ventilation, blood filtration and ECMO.

Do not be subjective about benign measles

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Do Duy Cuong, Director of the Institute of Tropical Medicine, since the beginning of the year, the hospital has received hundreds of measles cases in adults, an average of 10-20 cases per day. Common symptoms are fever, rash, cough, watery eyes, and runny nose. However, many patients have severe progression with complications such as pneumonia, respiratory failure, increased liver enzymes, diarrhea, and even encephalitis - meningitis. And most of these cases have not been vaccinated or have been vaccinated but not given a booster shot.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can easily spread to the community if not controlled. Therefore, when a patient is diagnosed with measles, they need to be immediately isolated for treatment to avoid spreading the disease to other cases.

"Measles cases with complications such as upper respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, increased liver enzymes, liver failure, multiple organ failure requiring dialysis, respiratory failure requiring endotracheal intubation... account for about 5% of hospitalized patients. Cases with underlying diseases such as diabetes and immunodeficiency are at higher risk, easily progressing to severe conditions requiring mechanical intervention," said Associate Professor, Dr. Cuong.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can be prevented by vaccination. The measles vaccine is included in the Expanded Immunization Program, given to children from 9 months of age, then given again at 18 months or 2 years of age. Adults also need to be vaccinated again when their immune system is weakened. If they have not been vaccinated or do not remember their vaccination history, they need to be given a measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Many people subjectively think that measles is just a mild disease, which will go away on its own after a few days. However, in reality, the disease can cause dangerous complications if not treated promptly. If you have symptoms of fever, rash, and prolonged cough, you should go to a medical facility for examination and treatment.

"Currently in Vietnam, measles is on the rise, not only in children but also in adults, especially those with underlying diseases or weakened immune systems. The measles vaccine is a very safe and effective vaccine, and the Ministry of Health has recommended that all children be vaccinated and re-vaccinated. Fully vaccinated not only helps protect yourself but also helps control the epidemic in the community. Measles is not as simple as many people think, so take the initiative to prevent it before it's too late," Mr. Cuong emphasized.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/nhieu-nguoi-lon-nhiem-soi-nguy-kich-192250324131353765.htm