Fatal Complication Of Measles Is More Common Than Commonly Believed

Fatal complication of measles is more common than commonly believed

Researchers reiterate the importance of vaccinating against measles Measles

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Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a severe complication of measles infection, is more common than previously thought. These conclusions were reached by scientists from the University of California.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, also known as Van Bogart's disease, is a progressive neurological disorder. People die on average one to two years after they are diagnosed with the disease. It is a late complication of measles that can develop even years after infection with the virus. The incubation period for measles itself usually does not exceed 14 days.

Previously, the risk of developing this Van Bogart disease was thought to be 1 in 100,000, but a new study indicates that the likelihood of a complication in children under 5 years of age is 1 in 1,387, and among children in the first year of life - 1 in 609. The study authors examined cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis reported in California between 1998 and 2015. In total, they managed to identify 17 cases.

There are three stages in the progression of the disease: first, the behavior of the patient changes (a person may become more aggressive), after which tremors of the extremities appear, seizures - gradually they become more pronounced, prolonged and frequent. Finally, the third stage - convulsive seizures begin to go almost without interruption, the patient falls into a coma, which ultimately leads to the death of the patient.

The fact that subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is more common than previously thought is making measles vaccination even more important. To prevent the development of this fatal complication can only be vaccinated, scientists say.

It is also necessary to be vaccinated against measles because it is universal vaccination and population immunity that will help protect those who, for some reason (for example, due to health problems or due to age), cannot be vaccinated.

Source: Deadly Measles Complication More Common Than Doctors Thought

A deadly complication of the measles, which can occur years after a person is infected with the virus, is more common than researchers previously thought, according to a new study.

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