Causes, Risk Factors, And Complications Of Measles

Pneumonia

A common complication that precipitates from the measles is pneumonia, which is the number one cause of fatalities attributed to measles in small children. Pneumonia is an infection of both or one of the lungs. The infection causes the alveoli or air sacs in the lungs to become severely inflamed and accumulate pus or fluid. Pneumonia may cause an individual to have a fever of up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit, a severe headache, muscle pain and weakness, a dry cough, and shortness of breath. A measles patient will have a preoccupied and weakened immune system. When bacteria or other viruses invade the mucosal tissues in the respiratory tract, the immune system is unable to perform its usual mechanisms to eradicate them. This impairment allows the pathogens to enter the lungs and begin multiplying rapidly. This causes an infection that is secondary to the measles or pneumonia. Antibiotics are used in the treatment of measles when a patient has pneumonia or another bacterial respiratory infection.