Measles

Running Head : Measles Measles

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Although first cultured in human and monkey kidney cell cultures in 1954 , the measles virus has been recognized as a clinical entity for centuries , dating as far back as 600 B .C . The very first scientific of measles is credited to Persian physician Ibn Razi , who published a book entitled Kitab fi al-jadari wa-al-hasbah . Razi 's study of measles was significant because its attempt to definitively distinguish it from smallpox . In the past century , measles has been estimated to

have killed about 200 million people worldwide , and a significant gain was made in the battle against it when in 1963 , an attenuated vaccine was made available to the public . Since that time the number of measles cases in the United States has dropped sharply . In less well-developed counties , however , the morbidity and mortality from measles infection remain at high levels

Speaking geographically , measles does not vary much in incident areas between North America and areas outside of it . In 2005 , almost all of confirmed measles cases were import-associated and 50 of all measles cases occurred among 5 to 19 years old children . After measles cases hit a record low in 2004 , measles morbidity increased by 79 . This morbidity increase is attributed to an initial outbreak in Indiana , which originated from an unvaccinated U .S . resident who had acquired an infection while traveling in Romania

Measles is an enveloped , spherical RNA virus belonging to Paramyxoviridae family and measures approximately 150 nanometers in diameter , measuring approximately 150 nm in diameter and contains hemagglutinin peplomers but unlike many other paramyxoviruses , it does not carry neuraminidase . The respiratory system is the means by which the measles virus is spread within the infected host , and as a highly contagious virus can be transmitted through respiratory secretions . As such , it passes from person to person via aerosol droplets that are expelled by coughing . Once transmitted , the virus infects the epithelial cells of its new host , and can replicate in blood vessels , the central nervous system , the conjunctivae , the lymphatic system and /or the urinary tract . Humans are the only known hosts of measles . Diagnosis of measles relies on the identification of specific clinical features suchas Koplik 's spots and rush . This is however , not entirely reliable as in many cases Koplik 's spots are not detected and the measles rash may be misdiagnosed

In any case , upon infection the virus induces the formation of multinucleate giant cells about half a week to a week after the disappearance of the rash . Detection of these multinucleate giant cells is possible through the use of a technique known as indirect fluorescent antibodies , which is most effective on the nasopharyngeal cells . Also complement-fixing , neutralizing , and hem agglutination-inhibiting antibodies develop in the serum at the rash and thus , the hem agglutination inhibition test is most useful in determining a patient 's immunity status . There is however , no specific treatment or antiviral therapy for licated measles , but fortunately most patients with...