Beware of Measles in Children, High Fever and Rash as Early Symptoms

Illustration of high fever in children. (Freepik)

JAKARTA - The increasing cases of measles in various regions make parents need to be more vigilant about their children's health. This disease caused by the virus is very contagious, especially for children who do not have immunity or have not received a complete immunization.

Recognizing the symptoms of measles early and ensuring that children receive vaccinations are important steps to prevent the spread and more serious effects.

Children's Specialist Doctor at Eka Hospital Cibubur, Meisy Grania Amalinda Salekede, said the public needed to increase vigilance because measles cases were reported to have appeared in dozens of cities in Indonesia.

"Recently, reports of measles transmission have increased. Currently, the outbreak has been detected in at least 73 cities in Indonesia and the number of cases continues to increase, so parents need to be more aware of symptoms in children," said Meisy.

According to him, measles is a disease caused by a virus from the Paramyxovirus family. Transmission can occur through the splash of saliva when coughing or sneezing (droplet) or through the air.

This virus can even survive in the air or stick to the surface of objects for several hours, so children who are in the same room as the sufferer are at risk of being infected if they do not have enough immunity.

Measles symptoms usually begin with flu-like symptoms, but develop with a typical pattern. Children generally have a high fever above 38 degrees Celsius which lasts for several days. This condition is often accompanied by coughing, runny nose, red eyes or sensitive to light, and in some cases also diarrhea.

"Usually after a few days of high fever, a reddish rash will appear which starts from the face or behind the ears, then spreads to the entire body to the hands and feet," said Meisy.

The rash usually lasts about a week. When it starts to subside, the skin color can turn darker before finally peeling off and returning to normal.

Although often considered a disease that can heal on its own, measles can actually cause serious complications if not handled properly or if the child's immune condition is weak. Some complications that can occur include lung infection or pneumonia, severe diarrhea that causes dehydration, to brain inflammation (encephalitis) which can trigger permanent nerve damage.

"Measles is not a disease that can be considered trivial. In certain conditions, the complications can be dangerous and even threaten the child's life," he said.

Because there is no specific treatment for the measles virus, prevention is the most important thing. One of the most effective ways is to ensure that children get measles immunization according to the schedule recommended by the Indonesian Pediatric Association (IDAI) and the government.

The measles vaccine is given for the first time when the child is 9 months old, followed by a booster dose at 18 months of age, and additional immunization when the child enters elementary school through the School Children's Immunization Month program.

Meisy also reminded parents to immediately take their children to the doctor if symptoms leading to measles appear, especially if accompanied by high fever that does not go down.

"If a child has a prolonged high fever, a rash, or other suspicious symptoms, they should be examined immediately so that they can be treated faster and prevent complications," said Meisy.