Rujeola is related to a lesser -known disease, but which is always fatal, and measles immunization is the only known method of prevention.
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Subacute sclerosis (PSSS) is a progressive, invalid and fatal brain condition, related to measles (rubella) infection, despite the fact that the disease can develop many years after measles infection.
CAUSE
PSSS is a rare disease, but has been reported in all parts of the world. It generally occurs in children and adolescents, boys being more often affected than women and tends to appear a few years after measles, according to Medlineplus.
The disease is caused by an abnormal immune response to measles or other forms of the virus this response leads to inflammation of the brain (swelling and irritation) that may take years. Pess is always fatal. Most people with this disease die 1 to 3 years after diagnosis.
symptom
Symptoms appear in four stages. In each stage the symptoms are more serious than in the previous stage:
Stage I: There may be personality changes, mood or depression changes, as well as fever and headaches. This stage can take up to 6 months.
Stage II: There may be uncontrolled movement problems, including muscle spasms and seizures. Other symptoms that may occur are loss of vision and dementia.
Stage III: The convulsive movements are replaced by contortion (twist) and rigidity movements and can occur due to complications.
Stage IV: The areas of the brain that regulate the breathing, the heart rate and the blood pressure are damaged, leading to a coma and then to the death.
A physical exam may reveal:
– injuries of the optic nerve, which is responsible for vision
– retina lesions, the side of the eye that receives the light
– muscle spasms
– poor performance at motor coordination tests (of movement)
The following tests can also be performed:
– electroencephalogram (EEG)
– Cerebral MRI
– serum antibody titer to look for signs of a previous measles infection
– lumbar puncture
Treatment and prevention
There is no cure for Pess. The treatment is generally aimed at regulating symptoms. However, certain antiviral drugs and drugs that stimulate the immune system can be tried to slow down the progression of the disease.
Immunization against measles is the only known method of prevention. The ROR vaccine, which prevents measles, rubella and mumps, is administered at 12 months (the first dose) and 5 years (second dose). When declaring measles epidemic, the first dose can be administered at the age of 9 months. Romania has passed, in the last 10 years, through two measles epidemics: in 2016 and in 2023.
Most cases of measles or measles in Europe come from Romania between 2023-2024. Since the beginning of the year eight unvaccinated children have died of measles.
