Morbillo outbreaks sparkle the concern for the rare “horrible” neurological disorder

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Dr. Michelle Barton worked for months at the center of the Morbillo’s Morbillo epidemic, trying to contain the damage that highly infectious disease can cause children hospitalized with the virus.

Barton directs the team of pediatric infectious diseases at the London Health Sciences Center Children’s Hospital in the South -ovest of the Province, the region with the highest rate of disease.

“We offer the best treatment we can in such circumstances,” said Barton. “If the child proceeds to deterioration, it is difficult to watch because you know that you would probably not be here if they had had vaccines.”

Barton and other doctors are concerned that the outbreaks in Canada will follow the same trajectory as those in the United States, where two unvaccinated children died of measles. Pediatricians and scientists claim to also look at extremely rare neurological conditions that can occur even years after children who have had measles from it.

Starting from Friday, the provincial health authorities across the country had reported 914 cases of measles, exceeding 751 infections throughout 2011. The total has been the highest since the measles was uprooted in Canada more than 25 years ago.

Most cases in the country has been reported in Ontario, with the Ontario of public health that details 804 confirmed and probable cases of measles this year.

In March, Chief Public Health Officer of the Province said that the increase in measles cases in southwestern omitors has been connected to a case relating to travel In New Bruswick Last autumn, which unleashed what the Canada public health agency called a multi-legion epidemic.

Chief Public Health Office Di Pei Said two adults who proved positive for the measles on the island had traveled together in an area in Canada where the outbreaks continue. On the meadows, Provincial figures Show cases of measles are going up to Alberta.

Barton is particularly worried about children with suppressed immune systems, such as those who receive chemotherapy. If they contract measles and “do not get to the hospital quickly, we could end up losing patients”.

Canadian doctors worry there will be dead

In Alberta, every area of ​​the province now has measles. Dr. Cora Costantinescu, pediatrician and specialist of contagious diseases at Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, is looking at the cases to mount and spread, calling her concern about “incredibly distressing” death death.

“We are probably looking at the beginning of a significant measles outbreak,” he said.

South of the border, two children not vaccinated without underlying health they died of measles In Texas, including an eight -year -old girl last week.

Friday the US centers for the control and prevention of diseases So far they have recorded 712 cases of measles this year in 25 jurisdictions, including Texas and New Mexico. In the County of Gaines, in Texas, the center of the epidemic, the measles has on Friday went to 355, compared to the 328 reported on Tuesday, the Department of State Health Services of Texas he said.

The Federal Agency stated that 97 % of cases of US measles are unvaccinated individuals or have an unknown vaccination status.

The reason why measles is so dangerous is because it is so contagious, said dr. Dele Davies, Canadian professor of pediatrics and infectious diseases at the medical center of the University of Nebraska.

The measles usually starts with a cough, the nose that colates and the red eyes, followed by points inside the mouth and a skin eruption that starts from the top of the head and moves downwards.

The measles virus causes a high fever, but also suppresses the immune system.

“The airways coating is influenced and becomes an ineffective barrier,” said Barton. “In front of this virus, which is very much what we call immunosuppressive, you can end up with pneumonia.” He noticed that the ear and other secondary infections are common.

Davies says that in children under the age of five, about 10 % will receive ears and many infections will develop diarrhea.

More serious complications include brain swelling or encephalitis In about one in 1,000 cases, which can lead to sleepiness, confusion and convulsions that resolve, said Barton and Davies.

“Horrible” and rare complication

While they are extremely rare, long -term neurological problems can also occur even after a child has recovered from measles.

Barton says that the measles virus itself remains at a low level in the brain and can wake up from six to 10 years later as a devastating disorder called Pancefalite Sclerosante subacuto or SSPE.

Immunologist Dawn BowDish, professor of medicine at McMaster University, says that the measles virus has mutations that allow him to hide from the immune system, therefore move from the neuron to the neuron in which the parts of the brain required for cognition and movement can be damaged.

“Start with challenges in learning or memory,” Bowdish said. “They do not reach their full intellectual potential … something that no parent wants for their child.”

Those with SSPE can have convulsions. Medical experts say that in almost all cases, the disorder progresses until the patient is in a vegetative state and in the end ends with death.

Davies estimates that SSPE occurs in about 10,000 people with measles, but observes that “the statistics are irrelevant to that mother whose son (he has) now suddenly obtained this really horrible disease”.

Very safe and highly effective vaccine, says the doctor

On the contrary, Davies says that the measles vaccine is very safe and highly effective. “It is important not only to save human lives, but also to prevent chronic diseases.”

In Alberta, Costantinescu notes the electronic immunization record in the province is accurate, but the absorption of vaccination drops up to 50 % in some communities, which means that there are many people not protected by measles.

“This is a large deal disease,” he said. “You don’t want to have what people call natural immunity from measles because the risk of having measles itself is so significant.”

Costantinescu suggested that what he called the silent majority of parents who have vaccinated their children should share the reason why they did it on their account on social media to help others feel sure they do the same and “in the end protect our communities and stop these outbreaks”.