Awareness is the first cure for measles!

The Measles Immunization Day is observed annually on March 16. Right medication, environment are not enough to curtail this disease. The first step to a measle-free world is awareness.

Therefore to spread awareness about this disease, Apeejay School, Kharghar, recently conducted a webinar on Measles Awareness. This workshop was conducted by the school’s doctor parent Dr. Deepika Ughade, a visiting consultant, DNB (Pulmonary Medicine) at Apollo Hospital, Terna Hospital and Chest Care Clinic in Kharghar.

The webinar commenced with a welcome note presented by Mrs. Mini Prasad and  Principal, Mrs. Tejaswini Katdare. Dr. Deepika stated that 3000 suspected cases were recently found and seven districts in Maharashtra were affected by measles. This disease is a respiratory disease caused by a very contagious virus and a person with measles can infect 12 to 18 people.

The symptoms of this disease are fever, red eyes, dry cough, runny nose and white spots inside the mouth. Young children with low immunity levels, who have not been vaccinated, are at a high risk of contracting the disease. Dr Deepika also stressed on the fact that chicken pox and measles often look alike, and thus right medication is not provided.  This disease is spread through sneezing and coughing. She further insisted on the fact that the basic method of treatment would be the right diagnosis with the right medication to begin with.

Parents must ensure that the infected child is kept in isolation, given proper hydration and nutritious food. The child must be given MMR vaccine with first dose at 12 to 15 months of age and second dose between 4 to 6 years of age to prevent this disease.

Principal, Mrs. Tejaswini Katdare appreciated and thanked the doctor for the informative webinar. The session concluded with a question and answer round, where parents had many queries on the disease and they were well answered by the doctor.