Department of Infectious Diseases Health Book

Author: Wang Peizhen, Xu Lili, Qian Peifen / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features:
6. How to treat measles with respiratory isolation: Patients should be isolated at home and treated until 5 days after the rash appears. Patients with complications should be hospitalized for isolation and treatment, with the isolation period extended by 5 days. Maintain a warm and well-ventilated room, provide easily digestible, nutrient-rich liquid or semi-liquid diets, and ensure adequate fluid intake. Keep the skin and eyes, nose, mouth, and ears clean. Wash the face with warm water, gargle with physiological saline, and use antibiotic (erythromycin) ointment or (chloramphenicol, norfloxacin) eye drops to protect the eyes and prevent secondary infections.
7. How to isolate a child with measles: If the child has no complications, they should be isolated at home. The isolation period is 5 days, but it should be extended to 10 days if complications occur. Since the measles virus loses its pathogenicity quickly once it leaves the human body, air disinfection can be achieved by frequently opening windows for ventilation. After parents come into contact with the child, staying outdoors for 20 minutes is sufficient to prevent transmission to others. The child’s clothes, bedding, toys, etc., can be disinfected by being exposed to sunlight for 1–2 hours.
8. How long should a child with measles stay in bed: Rest in bed until the rash disappears and symptoms subside. To ensure the child gets adequate rest, create a good recovery environment. The room should be quiet, with fresh and humid air. Open windows frequently for ventilation, but avoid drafty conditions and direct cold winds blowing on the child. Avoid strong light exposure to the child’s eyes; draw curtains to cover the windows and use lampshades for light bulbs. Dress and cover the child appropriately—overdressing can cause excessive sweating, making them more susceptible to colds and pneumonia if exposed to wind.
9. How to pay attention to diet when a child has measles: Provide light, easily digestible liquid or semi-liquid diets. Drink plenty of water or hot soup, which not only helps expel toxins from the body and reduce fever but also promotes blood circulation, making it easier for the rash to appear. Once the rash subsides and the recovery phase begins, add nutrient-rich foods promptly. Avoid only “avoiding certain foods” (e.g., raw, cold, or greasy foods).
10. How to care for the skin when a child has measles: Pay attention to the cleanliness of the child’s skin, eyes, mouth, and nose. After the measles virus enters the body, it not only causes rashes on the skin but also produces secretions in the conjunctiva, mouth, and nasal mucosa. These secretions contain a large amount of the virus. If they are not cleaned promptly, prolonged stimulation of the skin and mucosa by these secretions weakens their resistance, creating conditions for the virus to continue invading and for other pathogens to grow and multiply. Therefore, maintaining good hygiene for the child’s skin and mucosa is crucial. P4-5