JAKARTA - Measles is known as one of the infectious diseases that spread very quickly, especially in environments with high interaction. Transmission not only occurs through splashes when coughing or sneezing, but can also be through small particles that persist in the air and are inhaled by others.
This condition makes measles a disease that needs to be watched out for, especially because a person can transmit the virus even before the typical symptoms appear.
The Indonesian Association of Internal Medicine Specialists (PAPDI) explained that measles transmission can occur through droplets and airborne. Internal Medicine Specialist, Adityo Susilo, said that the measles virus can survive in the air for a certain period of time, increasing the risk of spread.
"The transmission can be through saliva splashes, but it can also be airborne. This means that the virus can survive in the air and be inhaled by others," he said in the PAPDI Forum and Press Conference with the theme 'Measles in Adults: Signs of Danger and Proper Handling and the Role of Vaccination' in Jakarta, Tuesday, March 31.
In addition, transmission can also occur indirectly, for example through objects that are contaminated with the virus, then touched and entered the body through the nose or mouth. Once inside, the virus will attack the respiratory tract before finally spreading throughout the body and triggering symptoms.
In the initial stage, measles symptoms are often non-specific, such as fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes. This condition is known as "three C", namely cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis. Because it is similar to other respiratory infections, measles is often difficult to recognize in the early stages.
"If you still have a fever, cough, cold, it can be various. We only suspect measles when a typical rash appears," he explained.
The rash in the form of reddish patches usually appears a few days after the initial symptoms. Interestingly, in the period before the rash appears, patients can actually transmit the virus to others even though they have not been diagnosed.
"There is a window where the patient is already sick and can transmit, but has not been detected as measles," said Adityo.
Seeing the high level of transmission, PAPDI emphasizes the importance of understanding the early symptoms and patterns of measles transmission so that early detection can be carried out. In addition, protection is not only important for children, but also for adults, especially those who do not have immunity.
Vaccination against measles in adults is one of the preventive measures that can be considered, especially for those who have never been vaccinated or do not have a clear immunization history.
On the same occasion, Dr. Sukamto Koesnoe, Sp.PD-KAI, FINASIM, internal disease specialist, clinical immunology allergy consultant said, the measles vaccine in adults is aimed at avoiding further transmission to people at risk in their environment.
"We as healthy adults may think about what the measles vaccine is for. But the benefits are more than that, we need to remember that if we are carriers or carriers of the disease, the measles virus can be transmitted to babies at home, pregnant women or the elderly around us whose immune systems are not like ours," he said.
The Chairman of the PAPDI Adult Immunization Task Force also said that if we adults have the right protection, the risk of transmission can be suppressed and the potential for serious complications due to measles can be avoided.
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