Measles

Measles or Rubeola is an acute infectious, highly communicable disease, characterised by a generalised exam them. The infants and children are highly susceptible to measles, however the higher incident is among children under 5 years of age, and the infants under 6 months of age rarely contract it. The disease can be very serious in young malnourished children and may lead to further loss of weight and result in severe forms of protein calories malnutrition. There are different types of measles, namely,  Black measles,  in which the eruptions is very dark and petechial, German measles or Rubella which has almost similar symptoms except the cold symptoms to that of the real measles, and hemorrhagic measles.
Infants born of susceptible mothers inherit no immunity. Generally, an attack of measles does not necessarily give a life long immunity, though second attacks are of great rarity. If uncomplicated and not suppressed, measles is not a dangerous malady..
Causes
The exciting cause of the disease is a virus which is active only inside the human organism. During the prodromal stage and the first days of eruption, the virus is found in the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, mouth and the conjunctiva as well as in the patient's blood. The measles virus is transferred from patient to healthy children during sneezing and coughing by means of the droplets injected and is carried by air. The virus can also penetrate the cracks in walls and cause infection. Thus the poor living conditions are conducive to the spread of the disease and increase in mortality. The details of incubation period, communicability, etc are given below,

Incubation period (period between exposure to disease and appearance of Symptoms)     
     7-14 days.

Period of communicability, (period when child could have infected others) 
         4 days before and 5 days after appearance of rash.

When child can mix with other children and return to school.
     On recovery, at least 5 days after appearances of rash.

Symptoms
The initial symptoms are profuse flow from the eyes and nose, sneezing, short, tight and depressing cough, the eyes have a peculiar watery appearances and become more of less inflamed, with photophobia. If the lower lid is pulled down,  the same would appear to be angry red. This is accompanied by slight fever for 3 to 4 days till the rash comes out about the 4th day, when fever shoots up. The fever usually goes higher each day.
The rash in form of indefinite pink spots first appears on the forehead and behind the ears from where it spreads all the trunk and limbs. In the initial stages, a fine desquamation of epithelium of the buccal mucosa at the molars  beginning often at the second lower molars as well as on the internal surface of the lips and on the gums in the form of small whitish glistening spots surrounded by redness (koplik's spots)  is found. The eruption of measles consists of numerous roundish lentil size red spots, which are a little raised above the level of the surrounding skin and generally contain a little pspule in their center. These spots have a tendency to coalesce if they app closer, to form irregular shaped plaques, while these stand isolated if they are scarce. The skin maintains its normal colour in between these spots. By the 8th day,  the entire body is covered by eruptions. Sometimes, a serious picture is observed at height of the process, that is on the 2nd or 3rd day of the eruptions, very high fever and disturbance in the general condition, puffy face, eyelids glued to each other due to discharge, rhinitis, dry and persistent cough and red swollen fauces are accompanies especially in very young children. In Malignant epidemics death may ensue due to general paralysis and weakness at the early stage. In such cases, the pulse grows weaker and weaker and cutaneous capillaries burst and cause bleeding within cutis, there is immense loss of strength and the patient sinks into a typhoid condition.
The eruptive stage is followed by desquamation stage and within 3/4 days, the fever abates and bran like scurf is gradually thrown off the skin,  leaving a dusky stain in the skin. The desquamation begins first on the face then behind the ears and on the neck, chest, arms trunk, thighs and finally legs. Sometimes, diarrhoea appears as the rash declines which is often considered to be a beneficial sign.
In a typical case, the extreme catarrhal stage especially of the patient presents unmistakable picture but milder forms may be confused with German measles or scarlatina. The comparative symptoms of measles and scarlatina are here,,,,,

Measles
(a)  Rash appear on the 4th day
Scarlatina
(a)  Rash appears on the second day with sudden onset, nausea and vomiting.
(b)  Catarrhal symptoms are invariably present, that is watery discharge from eyes and nose, conjunctivitis etc.
(b)  Catarrhal symptoms are usually absent through the symptoms of great heat of skin and hoarseness are present. The eyes are unusually bright.
(c)  Eruptions first appear in the mouth, on the forehead and behind the ears from where they spread to whole body.
(c)  Eruptions first appear on the upper part of the thorax and neck from where they spread to whole body.
(d)  The eruption is rough and elevated and of the size of lentil.
(d)  The eruption is smooth and consists of red papules standing on a erythematous background and is typical in the sweat areas.
(e)  The color of eruption is pinkish red.
(e)  The eruption is of a bright scarlet colour.
(f)  The desquamation is in the form of bran like scurf and is thrown off in a minute portions of the skin.
(f)  Desquamation is fine and powdery. Pin hole,  peeling on the trunk and limbs while glove peeling about the finger tips and toes is a marked feature.
(g)  Pulse is not rapid on the onset.
(g)  The pulse is rapid from the onset, in fact a slow pulse is against scarlatina.

Effects
The most common effects of measles in chi are,  broncho Pneumonia, bronchitis, laryngitis, otitis media, and encephalitis. Improper treatment of measles may lead to phthisis and Suppression of the eruptions by strong medicines may usually lead to severe diseases like asthma. It is now commonly believed that the above complications of measles appear only if the disease force is not thrown in the form of eruptions on the skin due either to low vitality of the patient or if the initial symptoms of coryza and fever are treated with strong medicines. No complications or sequelae arise if eruption is abundant.
Homoeopathic therapeutics.
Aconite
Useful at the commencement when the catarrhal symptoms, chilliness, restlessness, dry skin, thirst at night are present. Red conjunctiva with photo phobia, fever with quick full pulse, and dry barking cough are present. The skin is burning and itching.
Ant tart
This medicine is useful when eruptions do not appear or repelled. There is great rattling of mucus in the chest but it does not yield to coughing. Dyspnoea with bluish or purplish face and drowsiness are present.
Apis
This is also one of the important remedies in case of tardy or suppressed eruptions which effects the brain. The child has considerable difficulty in breathing with inability to remains in warm room. Stupor with stinging pains and extorting cries. The Apis child is thirst less and is worse from heat, hot room and fire and is better by cool air. There is pronounced oedema of the skin and throat with confluent eruptions. Great soreness of the chest with cough. Scanty urine along with thirstlessness forms an important symptom combination of this remedy.
Ars alb.
Tardy eruptions with great anxiety,  restlessness and pronounced prostration are some of the important symptoms of this remedy when employed in measles. It is also useful when symptoms turn towards
Typhoid. After disappearance of the eruptions. There is great itching and burning of skin. The symptoms are worse after midnight. This remedy is of great service in Malignant types or black haemorrhagic measles. Diarrhoea with offensive stools followed by great exhaustion. Ars has been found to be useful in severe epidemic of measles as well as its sequelae. The child has thirst for small quantities of water at frequent intervals.
Belladonna
Indicated in measles when throat becomes sore with difficulty of swallowing and pricking pains. High fever with cerebral excitement and dry barking or spasmodic cough towards midnight often call for this remedy. Convulsions occur at the eruptive stage. This remedy is useful in the beginning when child is restless and has throbbing headache, flushed face and red eyes.
Bryonia
When the rash is slow to appear and there is hard dry cough with tearing pain in the chest. The lips are dry, parched and there is great thirst for large quantities of water at frequent intervals. This remedy is especially indicated when the eruptions suddenly disappeared and the child feels drowsy with pale twitching face and chewing motion of jaws. The child prefers to lie down quietly as slightest motion causes stitching pains in the chest. Great lassitude and irritability, anorexia, constipation and low mild delirium are some of the important symptoms calling for this remedy.
Cup met 
This remedy is indicated when convulsions ensue due to the recess of eruptions. The child starts up from sleep and has frightening convulsive with bluish face. Measles complicated with bronchitis, cold clammy sweat at night, and cramps in fingers and toes are some of the additional symptoms calling for this remedy.
Euph 
This remedy is indicated when the catarrhal symptoms predominate and when conjunctiva is red and swollen with acrid tears. There is intolerance to light and profuse bland fluent coryza. The cough is dry and hoarse with throbbing headache and is relived on the appearance of the eruptions. One of the characteristics symptoms of this remedy is unusual brightness of the eyes despite catarrhal condition.
Gelsemium
In the beginning of the ailments when the child is dull, drowsy and feels tired. Fever with chilliness, watery coryza which excoriates upper lip and nose, hoarse barking croupy cough with soreness of chest are some of the symptoms of this remedy. There is great itching and redness of the skin with tendency of eruptions to turn livid.
Kali bich
When there is deep, loud cough with expectoration of stringy yellowish mucus. Intense conjunctiva, stitches in the ears, watery diarrhoea with tenesmus, sore throat, swollen salivary glands. When the measles is complicated with bronchitis and Bryonia cannot control it,  this remedy will be found to be of special use. Useful in sequelae of measles when ulceration or pustulation  of cornea is threatened.
Lachesis
Useful in black measles when all symptoms are aggravated by suddenly awaking from sound sleep. The eruption is livid, countenance almost black, tongue coated dark brown and dry, it catches on the lower teeth and cannot be protruded coryza severe, lips and inside cheek wall sore and swollen, also useful in dipthteric symptoms.
Merc sol
Measles accompanied by swollen glands of throat and difficulty in swallowing. Indicated when gastrointestinal symptoms dominate and there is diarrhoea of slimy stool with tenesmus.
Pulsatilla
Indicated at a later stage of the disease when the catarrhal symptoms predominate. The cough is dry at night but loosens in the day time. The child sits up to cough. The eyes aggultinate and the discharge is purulent. There is much predisposition to earache. The eruptions are slow in coming out and when fully out are of a dark appearance. There is great dryness of lips without thirst and child licks constantly to moisten them. Thick yellow discharge from nose. Pulsatilla is especially useful when the chronic loose cough persists as a sequelae.
Sulphur
This remedy is useful either in the first stage when the fever and catarrhal symptoms are present or when the eruption is tardy or for the sequelae. Sulphur modifies the cough when the skin is dusky and the rash does not come out or is purplish when it appears. When the chronic caught, , chronic diarrhoea, hardness of hearing, chronic discharge from ears remain after measles or the convalescence is slow and the patient is weak and prostrated, this remedy comes in beautifully.
Zinc met
When the child is too weak to develop the eruptions and rash comes out sparingly, this remedy is called for. The child lies in stupor, gritting teeth with dilated pupils and squinting and rolling of eyes. This remedy would often modify the reactivity and help the child to go through the disease normally. One of the important symptoms of this remedy is that the child cries out in sleep and awakes from sleep as if terrified.

Some cases treated.
A girl of 8 years was exposed to measles in her school. She developed fever, coryza and watering of eyes. Earlier, she had been given Aconite 6,  by another homoeopath as some of children in her neighborhood, had contracted disease. The child was dull and wanted to lie down quietly without any disturbance. She also reported headache at the base of the brain and vertigo. The mother of the child reported that she refused water even though she has great dryness in the mouth. The fever was 39°c. The child felt chilly and had considerable sneezing. The catarrhal state of the eyes and nose surely suggested the onset of measles. Based on the symptoms, Gelsemium 30 one dose every 4 hours was prescribed for two days,till the eruption came out. After 2 days the child became active and was not as apathetic as before. On the, 5 th day, the eruption were noted on the forehead and neck which spread all over the body within 24 hours. The medicine was stopped as the eruptions were satisfactory. The parents were advised to give the child milk and warm drinks not cool drinks. The measles ran its normal course without leaving any sequelae.

A, 3 years old girl with fair complexion and greenish eyes contracted measles from her elder sister. The child in its early stage was treated homoeopathically. However, the diarrhoea continued even after the successful desquamation which continued for several days. 5 does of China 30 cured her completely as well as helped her in regaining the strength as the girl was considerably prostrated after the attack of measles.