TWO DEATHS due to measles in the past 48 hours and over two dozen measles cases in Gopalipur village in Dhanupur development block has set the alarm bells ringing.
The sporadic measles cases are also being reported from different parts of the city. The city doctors are also receiving a large number of children who have developed secondary complications due to severity of measles infection.
The measles and other viral infections are mostly spreading in the rural and densely populated city areas indicating the poor immunisation coverage and insanitary condition in the colonies.
Leading paediatrician Dr Ajay Gopal said a large number of measles cases in rural areas indicates that the routine immunisation programme was poorly managed in the rural areas and still a large number of children in villages suffer from malnutrition. "Since most of the rural children are not vaccinated against measles many of them also develop secondary complications like diarrhoea and high fever. Some serious measles cases are also brought to the hospital. The mortality rate is also high if the child is not provided right treatment," he added.
Dr Gopal said being a viral infection there was no treatment of measles. But the patient could be provided symptomatic treatment to bring down fever or control diarrhoea. Besides, certain measures need to be taken to check its spread to other children."The parents should not allow their children to visit another child with measles infection. After the occurrence of measles the child should be given an additional dose of Vitamin A to reduce its severity. In case the measles has spread in a locality, the parents can provide additional doses of Vitamin A to their children even before the occurrence of measles," he informed.
Dr Gopal said if there is epidemic like situation the measles vaccination should be given to even a seven-month-old baby. Usually the measles vaccination is given to a nine-month-old baby.
{{/usCountry}}Dr Gopal said if there is epidemic like situation the measles vaccination should be given to even a seven-month-old baby. Usually the measles vaccination is given to a nine-month-old baby.
{{/usCountry}}A good healthy diet also need to be given to children in order to avoid malnourishment. "There is less severity of measles infection in healthy babies," he said. District epidemic cell incharge Dr VK Mishra said that additional dose of Vitamin A was given to all the children in five kilometre radius of measles-affected area.