What is measles/KHASARA? Ayurvedic & Allopathic Treatment

What is measles/KHASARA? Exactly What does measles resemble?

About Measles - Measles is known as Khasara in Hindi word and rubeola or morbilli is another scientific name for this. It is an extremely contagious, communicable and endemic disease, induced by measles/rubeola virus. 

It generally occurs in children but can hit adults as well and characterized by raised body temperature, catarrh, cold, coryza, flue, cough, conjunctivitis, skin eruptions, etc. that can pass on quickly as a droplet infection by way of sneezing, coughing etc. from person to person and goes without specific treatment within one to two weeks of the time.

Pneumonitis and encephalitis are the well-known complications associated with Measles that often result in deaths. This is an eminent point that reinfection can never come due to the fact, people develop level of resistance for lifetime after the first onset of rubeola virus.

What are the Causes & Risk factors for Measles & How could it be spread?

Infection with measles virus - A mode of transmission is droplet infection of measles virus and can propagate through physical connection with an infected individual in the event that they sneeze, cough, or hack.

Infected articles.

Weakened or poor immunity system.

Malnutrition and deficiency of vitamin A.

Unhygienic living conditions.

HIV infection.

Bad food patterns and habit as well.

Non-immunized babies are at higher risk for getting measles.

Environmental factor- It mostly occurs in winter season.

Types of Measles

You can discover two types of measles, recognized as Measles and German measles and both are induced by different viruses called as rubeola virus for measles and rubella virus for German measles.

Measles/rubeola virus - 

Also known as red measles, hard measles, and morbilli where the disease recovers without the problems in almost all of the cases. 

On account of complications like pneumonia, encephalitis it may be fatal in ignored or left out cases but very rarely.

German measles/rubella virus - 

Additionally it is known as "three-day measles and neither a severe nor a deadly disease. 
It is mostly a risky disease for developing fetus during motherhood period that can cause significant birth defects like miscarriage, early labor, and fetal death.

Measles (Rubeola) Signs and Symptoms

Maculopapular Exanthema / Exanthema - 

Reddish-brown full-body skin rash ( The small red eruptions may develop from 2- 6 days later on the forehead, face, neck, trunk, arms, and legs).

Otitis media - ear-ache.

Sensitivity to light (photophobia).

Conjunctivitis / pink eyes - swollen eyelids, redness and watering of the eyes.

Respiratory issues like a dry cough, shortness of breath, coryza, sneezing, runny nose, 

sore throat, and chest pain.

Mild to severe fever (100 - 104°F)

Body aches and muscular pain.

Koplik's spots - white spots inside the mouth including cheeks and throat.

Lethargy, fatigue, and malaise.

delirium, drowsiness, and convulsion in a couple of cases.

Loss of appetite.

Complications associated with measles

Complications related to measles may be next -

Pneumonia / pneumonitis.

Otitis media (A bacterial ear infections) that can lead to the permanent hearing loss.

Conjunctivitis (An eye infection).

Vomiting and loose stools.

RTI - Bronchitis, Pneumonitis, Laryngitis, breathing problems etc.

Blindness (vision loss due to optic nerve damage) and Squint (eye nerves and muscles may be involved).

Febrile seizures.

Croup.

Abortion / miscarriage.

Encephalitis - inflammation of the brain.

Hepatitis - Inflammation of the liver.

Thrombocytopenia - low platelet count in the blood.

In pregnant women - miscarriage or premature delivery/preterm labor, birth defects like stillbirth and, low birth weight.

Apart from these, neuritis, retrobulbar neuritis, motor abnormalities, cognitive disorders, chronic mental changes leading to dementia and paralysis, heart problems, SSPE (Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis), mental retardation, behavioral changes, convulsions, transverse myelitis, ascending myelitis, and deaths may be possible in some of the cases.

What is the incubation period of measles?

Measles incubation period - An incubation period of measles can ranges around 7 -12 days from exposure.

How to prevent measles or Can Vaccination Protect Against Measles?

What should be done if you have been exposed to measles?

It is an established fact that measles vaccine will not deliver long term immunity but also possesses a value that is maintained up to 20 years of the time.

Measles can be prevented through vaccination and for this purpose,

MMR / measles-mumps-rubella vaccine or MMRV / measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine has been utilized according to the immunization schedule for a long period.

The first medication dosage of vaccine should be given when children are 12 - 15 months and second dose must be given at the age of 4 - 6 years as a booster dose.

Side effects of vaccine on measles - fever, skin rash.

Contraindications of measles vaccine

The measles vaccine should not be administered in case there is pregnancy, or who wish to conceive a child in near future.

Eczema.

Acute sickness.

Cortisone therapy.

Children with tuberculosis, cancer diseases, allergy, egg allergy, and severe allergic to neomycin or gelatin.

On account of poor immunity strength for any reason.

History of convulsion.

What is Measles Treatment? How exactly to treat measles? Is There a Treatment for Measles?

Lifestyle recommendations and Steps to follow for treatment and prevention of measles

Although, there is absolutely no any allopathic medicines is accessible to destroy the virus of measles. Only symptomatic treatment that targets supportive management and vaccine is available to deal with measles. 

On account of measles, symptoms usually go away within10 -15 days without treatment in mild cases. However paracitamol / acetaminophen or ibuprofent etc. may be recommended to take care of fever and body aches that are always related to measles. 

Always keep in your mind that aspirin should not be given to the kids under 15 years because it can harm children's liver and may deliver Reye's syndrome as well.

Plenty of essential fluids like drinking water, coconut water, barley water,  fruit juice like orange juice or lemonade etc. should be given to affected children to avoid dehydration that may be associated with high-grade fever, vomiting, loose stools etc. regarding measles.

Lemonade or orange juice is an excellent source of vitamin C, so that it enhances immunity power that help fight Measles.

Measles sufferers should be isolated from others to prevent the spread of the disease as soon as possible. 

Antibiotics have no value regarding measles virus treatment but can be intaken to check on an additional bacterial infections (secondary bacterial infections).

Sufficient bed rest is also necessary to help boost immunity.

A humidifier or vaporizer should be utilized to help ease a coughing in children.

Try not to smoke nearby the child, affected with measles-related cough.

In the case of conjunctivitis associated with measles, just fomentation with lukewarm water is advised.

As described above, measles is a highly contagious disease, so cover the mouth during sneezing, or coughing.

Hand wash should be followed to prevent the spreading the further infection.

Immune globulin is a special immunization and really should be used under the supervision of a qualified doctor.

vitamin A supplementation is vital in malnourished children (vitamin A deficiency).

Carbonated or caffeinated drinks should be better avoided.

Measles patient should be placed in a dark room to avoid light sensitivity.

In the case of high-grade fever, sponging with water should be performed for better benefits.

In the severe and complicated cases, hospital admission is necessary.

Cough syrup can't work properly so lemon juice, honey, and warm water should be given.


 Honey is contraindicated for children under age one year.

Only use loose fitting cotton garment to avoid itching, eruptions, and skin rashes and never use harshing hair shampoo or cleaning soap during measles suffering period.

Maintain a well-ventilated room for measles patient.

What things to eat in measles disorder - 

Eggs, butter, bread, boiled and mashed potato, chicken broth, milk pudding, fisheries, cantaloupes, grapes, grapefruits, whole grain cereals, bland soups etc.

Fried food, Junk food, fatty foods, over-processed foods, meats, spices, sweets, salty snacks, caffeinated beverages, aerated drinks, carbonated drinks, etc. should be avoided by measles sufferers.

What are the best Ayurvedic remedies for measles

Ayurvedic medicines for Measles - 

Egg plant - Aubergine - Solanum melongena

Nimboo - Lemon - Citrus limon

Lahasun - Garlic -Allium sativum

Amla - Phyllanthus emblica - Indian gooseberry

Tulsi - Basil - Ocimum basilicum

Black cohosh - Actaea racemosa/ Cimicifuga racemosa.

Boneset - Sweating Plant - Eupatorium perfoliatum

Bitter gourd/Bitter melon - Momordica charantia

Mulethi - Liquorice - Glycyrrhiza glabra

Santara - Orange - Citrus reticulata

Alkanet - Dyer's Alkanet - Alkanna tinctoria

Bittersweet - Celastrus orbiculatus

Catnip - Catmint - Nepeta cataria

Blessed thistle - Saint Benedict Thistle - Cnicus benedictus

Vasaka - Malabar Nut - Justicia adhatoda

Imli  - Tamarind seeds - Tamarindus indica

Indian pennywort - Water Hyssop - Bacopa monnieri

Gular - Cluster figs - Ficus racemosa

Burdock Root -  Thorny burr - Arctium lappa

Cleavers - Stickyweed - Galium aparine

Amargo - Bitter quassia - Quassia amara

Red millet - Finger millet - Eleusine coracana

Great duckweed - Common duckmeat - Spirodela polyrhiza

Bhut-vriksha - Indian trumpet - Oroxylum indicum

Vidari Kanda - Indian Kudzu - Pueraria tuberosa

Arhar - Pigeon pea - Cajanus cajan

Karadi - Safflower - Carthamus tinctorius

Chandan - Sandalwood - Santalum album

Jewelweed - Wild Celandine - Impatiens capensis

Water Caltrop - Water chestnut - Eleocharis dulcis

Yarrow - Sneezewort -  Achillea millefolium

White bryony - Bastard Turnip - Bryonia alba

Nagadamani - Mugwort - Artemisia vulgaris

Marjoram - Wurstkraut - Origanum majorana

Common sage/culinary sage - Salvia officinalis

Jau - Barley  - Hordeum vulgare

Halad - Turmeric - Curcuma longa

Neem / Margosa leaves - Azadirachta indica

Purple coneflower/ hedgehog coneflower - Echinacea Purpurea

Astragalus Root - Milk Vetch root - Astragalus membranaceus

Marigold - Calendula flowers -  Calendula officinalis.

WRITTEN BY  RAJESH  KUMAR