Complications of measles

Measles usually lasts about 10 _ 14 days. In some parts of the world, the disease is severe, even deadly. _ Western countries, that's usually not the case. People _ measles may become quite ill, but most people recover completely. However, complications may include:

Ear Infection. Measles causes an ear infection in nearly one out of every 10 children.

Encephalitis. About one in 1,000 people with measles develops encephalitis, an inflammation _ the brain caused _ a viral infection, which may cause vomiting, convulsions and, rarely, coma. Encephalitis can closely follow measles, or it can occur years later during adolescence as a result _ a slow virus infection. The late form, called Dawson's encephalitis, is rare.

Pneumonia. As many as one in 15 with measles gets pneumonia, which can be life-threatening.

Diarrhea or Vomiting. These complications are more common _ infants and small children.

Bronchitis, Laryngitis or Croup. Measles may lead _ inflammation of your voice box (larynx) or inflammation of the inner walls that line the main air passageways of your lungs (bronchial tubes).

Pregnancy Problems. Pregnant women need to take special care to avoid measles, because the disease can cause miscarriage, premature labor or babies _ low birth weights.

Low Platelet Count (thrombocytopenia). Measles may lead to a decrease _ platelets – the type _ blood cells that are essential _ blood clotting.

Ex. 14. Write out key words of the text “Measles”.

Ex. 15. Make up a plan of the text “Measles”.

Ex. 16. Give a summary of the text “Measles”.

Ex. 17. Speak on the causes, symptoms, and treatment of measles.

Ex. 18. Make up a dialogue on treatment of measles.

Ex. 19. Pronounce and memorize the words to the theme studied:

Catarrhal [kq'ta:rql] катаральний; prodromal stage ['prOdrqmql] продромальний (початковий) період; height of the disease [haIt] розпал хвороби; eruption висип; spots плями Бельского-Філатова; branny desquamation ["deskwq'meISn] висівкоподібне лущення; convalescence ["kOnvq'lesns] одужання.

Ex. 20. Read and translate the following text:

Some notions about measles

I have two patients who have measles. Measles is an infectious disease. It is dangerous for children as well as grown-ups, but mild cases are dangerous neither for children nor for grown-ups. Although measles is a communicable disease, it is less communicable that many other infectious diseases. Now measles is a preventable disease.

Clinical manifestations of measles are fever, catarrhal symptoms in eyes, nose, throat in the prodromal stage, as well as at the height of the disease, an early eruption in the mouth and spots, later a branny desquamation during convalescence.

Both my patients are at home in a separate room as they have a large family and contact with them is dangerous. They are not in an infection hospital as they have a mild form of measles.

Ex. 21. Answer the following questions:

1. How many patients does the doctor have? 2. What are they ill with? 3. For whom is measles dangerous? 4. What do we call a disease, which passes from one person to another? 5. Is measles preventable now? 6. What cases of measles aren’t dangerous? 7. Why are the patients in a separate room?

Ex. 22. Insert the missing words (laboratory; preventable; mild; measles; eruption; analyses; fever; clinical characteristics):

1. The child at the right window has _. 2. It is a _ case. 3. _ and catarrhal symptoms in eyes, nose and throat are _ _ of measles. 4. Doctor Smirnov says that the child has _ in the mouth. 5. Measles is a _ disease now. 6. They make different _ at the _ in the clinic.

OVERVIEW

Measles is primarily a respiratory infection caused by a highly contagious virus. The virus lives in the mucus in the nose and throat of an infected child or adult. Measles symptoms and signs include: fever; dry cough; runny nose; inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis); sensitivity to light; and tiny red spots found inside the mouth on the inner lining of the cheek. Measles typically begins with a mild to moderate fever, accompanied by a persistent cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes and sore throat. Two or three days later, Koplik's spots appear. No treatment can get rid of an established measles infection. However, nonimmunized infants may be given the measles vaccination within 72 hours of exposure to the measles virus, to provide protection against the disease. Pregnant women, infants and people with weakened immune systems may receive an injection of proteins (antibodies).

LESSON 64

REVISION