Sarampo: manifestações clínicas, diagnóstico, tratamento e prevenção

Abstract

Introduction: Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that occurs worldwide. The infection is characterized by fever, malaise, cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis, followed by rash. Objective: to discuss measles and clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Methodology: Literature review from Scielo, PubMed, and BVS databases, from January to April 2024, with descriptors “Measles”, “Clinical Manifestations”, “Treatment”, “Prevention”, and “Diagnosis”. Articles from 2019-2024 (total 100) were included, excluding other criteria and choosing 05 full articles. Results and Discussion: Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that occurs worldwide. The infection is characterized by fever, malaise, cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis, followed by rash. After exposure, approximately 90% of susceptible individuals develop measles. The period of contagiousness is estimated to be five days before the rash appears and four days after. Classic measles infection in immunocompetent patients consists of the following clinical stages: incubation, prodrome, rash, and recovery. Incubation is 6 to 21 days (median, 13 days). A 2- to 4-day prodromal phase is characterized by fever, malaise, and anorexia, followed by conjunctivitis, coryza, and cough. If present, Koplik spots, a rash considered pathognomonic for measles infection, typically occur approximately 48 hours before the rash. The characteristic rash appears approximately two to four days after the onset of fever; it consists of a red, maculopapular rash that typically begins on the face and head and spreads downward. Initially, the lesions are whitish; in later stages, they are not. The rash resolves within five to six days, disappearing in the order in which it appeared. The cough may persist for one to two weeks after measles. The diagnosis of measles should be considered in a patient who presents with a febrile rash and clinically compatible symptoms. Treatment of measles is largely supportive; in some cases, vitamin A and/or ribavirin may be beneficial. Conclusion: Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease.