Nursing Management of Measles (Rubeola) - Lecture 13

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the etiology, pathophysiology, clinical stages, complications, and nursing management of measles based on the HDNR21205 lecture.

Measles (Rubeola)

An acute, highly contagious viral infection characterized by fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, and a generalized maculopapular rash.

Causative Agent

Measles virus, genus Morbillivirus, which is an RNA virus that primarily infects the respiratory tract.

Airborne Transmission

The virus can remain suspended in the air and infectious for up to two hours after an infected person has left the area.

Contagious Period

Starts four days before the rash appears until four days after the rash erupts.

Secondary Attack Rate

Up to $90\%$ of susceptible people exposed to the measles virus will become infected.

Pathophysiology (Initial Infection)

Virus enters the respiratory tract, replicates locally, then spreads to the lymphatic system and bloodstream.

Prodromal Stage

Lasts $2-4$ days, characterized by fever up to $105^{\circ}F$ ($40.5^{\circ}C$) and the classic "3 C's": Cough, Coryza, and Conjunctivitis.

Coryza

Runny nose; one of the three classic symptoms (3 C's) observed during the prodromal stage of measles.

Enanthem Stage

Occurs $1-2$ days before the rash, marked by the appearance of Koplik spots.

Koplik spots

The pathognomonic sign of measles; small, irregular, bright red spots with a minute bluish-white center found on the buccal mucosa opposite the molars.

Exanthem Stage

Lasts $5-6$ days, featuring a non-itchy, red/brown maculopapular rash that blanches when pressed.

Cephalocaudal Spread

The pattern of the measles rash typically starting on the face/behind the ears and spreading from head to toe.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)

A rare, late neurological complication of measles infection.

Diagnostic Laboratory Confirmation

Includes Measles-specific IgM antibodies in blood, PCR for viral RNA, or samples from throat swabs, nasopharyngeal swabs, or urine.

Vitamin A Supplementation

WHO-recommended supportive care for measles, such as $200,000\,IU$ for children $\ge 1$ year.

Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AIIR)

A negative pressure room where a patient with suspected measles must be placed as part of infection control.

N95 Respirator Mask

Personal protective equipment that nursing staff must wear upon entry to the room of a patient with measles.

Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

Unvaccinated contacts may receive the MMR vaccine within $72$ hours or Immunoglobulin (IG) within $6$ days of exposure to prevent the disease.

MMR Vaccine Schedule

Dose 1 is given at $12$ to $15$ months of age; Dose 2 is given at $4$ to $6$ years of age.

Herd Immunity Threshold

High vaccination coverage of $95\%$ is essential to achieve herd immunity and protect those too young or immunocompromised to be vaccinated.