Measles in children is considered to be one of the most infectious or viral illness that causes unpleasant effects on a child’s health. While with the introduction of effective vaccinations for measles has decreased the measles outbreak in kids, it still occurs in children generally at a young age, especially if he or she has not been vaccinated. While the infection goes away in about 8 to 10 days, here are some tips by Mother Nurture that describe what to do if your child gets measles.
Control the rising temperature: Ask your doctor or pediatrician for certain medicines that can be given to your child to reduce the fever or high temperature. Measles can also cause discomfort and ache and make your child feel uncomfortable. Ask your doctor to recommend medicines that can help in relieving the pain.
Give your child plenty of fluids: If your child has been suffering from high temperature (fever) during measles you need to make sure to give him or her plenty of fluids as they could be at a very high rate of dehydration. Offering fresh juices and other fluids can also help in easing throat pain in kids caused due to excessive coughing.
Look out for any cold-like symptoms: If your little one has any symptoms like a runny nose or a cough you need to know that there are many things you can do to comfort this problem. For instance you can offer your child a nice steam to ease the cough your child is suffering from. Offer your baby some warm water or fluids like warm water with lemon and honey to loosen the mucus and to soothe the cough. Avoid giving honey to your baby if his or her age is less than 12 months.
Treat the soreness in eyes: Measles in kids often causes soreness in the eyes that can further increase their discomfort. You can relieve the discomfort by gently cleaning your baby’s eyelids with a cotton soaked in water. Also try to keep the curtains of your house closed if the bright light hurts their eye.
While measles sickness can be cured in about 10 days, as parents you should be vigilant about your little one’s health and also look out for any symptoms that can cause serious complications. Some serious signs to look out for are shortness of breath or a pain in the chest, fits and drowsiness. If you notice that your child has developed any such symptoms, immediately take him or her to the nearest hospital or clinic.
To read more about child health and wellness, read our blogs here.
(Note: Mother Nurture only provides recommendations based on best practice that a parent should follow. These recommendations should always be discussed with your doctor or pediatrician. It is always best to follow your doctors/pediatrician orders. Please contact your doctor or emergency services, in case of emergency or if your child is unwell or not responding well to recommendations provided.)
