Measles - the Disease
Measles before the MMR was a common childhood disease and most children recovered with no special treatment. The disease is spread by coughing and sneezing and is most infectious during the catarrhal stage, until about 5 days after the rash appears. The symptoms respond well to homeopathic remedies.
1. The catarrhal stage (lasts 3-4 days):
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Begins like a cold
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Temperature
Nasal catarrh with sneezing
Redness of eyes
Swelling of eyelids
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Watering of eyes
After a few days, the cold turns into a cough with hoarseness. The eyes become sensitive to light. A fever begins: this is an essential part of the disease, as it helps the eruptions to come out.
Koplik spots occur on the inner lining of the cheek: these are small white spots surrounded by a halo of red inflamed tissue.
2. The spotty stage (lasts 3-4 days):
Spots appear behind the ears and on the hair-line of the forehead. These spread down the face, neck and torso; and onto limbs. The spots are small and raised with a white centre. As they get more numerous, they gather in blotches. The face may appear bloated.
The fever may become higher as the rash spreads.
Press an isolated spot with the thumb and the measly redness disappears. On removing the thumb, the redness reappears, going inward from the periphery towards the centre.
The rash dies down, deepens in colour, and fades to a faint brown. After this, the skin flakes away in particles like dandruff.
Your GP should be informed if measles is contracted in your family, so that the disease can be notified with the local health authority.