Treatments for measles are usually focused on keeping the patient comfortable and supporting his health; this is due to the fact that there are no treatments known to kill the virus responsible for causing this illness. Instead, patients must usually wait for it to run its course. For this purpose, rest, fever medication, and pain relievers are often used. In some cases, a patient may also need Intravenous (IV) fluids to prevent dehydration or treat it if it has already developed. Additionally, a person may need antibiotics for the treatment of any secondary infections that develop as a result of the measles infection.
Rest is top among the most common treatments for measles. A person with this condition is usually advised to rest as much as possible and participate in quiet activities that do not require much physical effort. In some cases, a person with measles develops sensitivity to light. When this occurs, keeping the room in which he is resting dimly lit may prove helpful as well.
Medication may be used when a person has measles, but its purpose isn’t really to treat the illness or the virus that causes it. Instead, medication may be used to treat a fever a person develops as a symptom of measles. It may also be used for the purpose of lessening pain the patient may feel in relation to the illness. For example, it may help relieve headache pain a person develops along with a fever. In most cases, over-the-counter medications are suitable for this purpose.
An individual may also do well to drink plenty of liquids to avoid dehydration. In the event that the patient isn‘t taking in enough liquids or dehydration develops, a doctor may administer IV fluids as one of the treatments for measles. Additionally, running a humidifier may prove helpful for lessening the patient’s cough.
Interestingly, immunization may be used as one of the treatments for measles. A person who has been exposed to measles may receive a vaccination against the virus within the first three days of exposure. In some cases, this may prevent the patient from developing the disease. In others, it may lessen the severity and duration of symptoms.
The development of secondary infections is a risk when a person has measles. For example, a person may develop an ear infection or pneumonia as a complication of a case of measles. In such a case, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics for the treatment of the secondary infection.
