Measles Treatment

• Patients are provided with supportive care

Oxygen Therapy

• May be given in patients with respiratory tract involvement

Hydration and Nutrition

• Oral rehydration is effective in majority of cases; oral rehydration salts may be used especially in patients with diarrhea
• Administer IV fluids, if necessary
• Increase feeding frequency as necessary; breastfeeding should be continued

Antipyretics

• May be used to relieve fever

Vitamin A

• Recommended in the following patients with measles:
  • Hospitalized patients 6 months-2 years of age with complications
  • Patients >6 months of age who have not received vitamin A supplementation and who have any of the following risk factors: Vitamin A deficiency, immunodeficient state, impaired intestinal absorption, moderate to severe malnutrition, travel history to areas where high mortality rates are attributed to measles

• May be taken as single dose of 50,000 IU PO for patients <6 months, 100,000 IU PO for patients 6-11 months or 200,000 IU PO for ≥1 year of age
• Dose is repeated the next day and 4 weeks later especially in patients with ophthalmologic evidence of vitamin A deficiency

Post-exposure Prophylaxis

• May be protected either by Ig immunization or vaccine administration (should not be administered simultaneously)
• Measles vaccine or MMR vaccine is effective if given within 72 hours of exposure
• Ig is administered up to 6 days post-exposure
  • Indicated in susceptible contacts of measles patients eg infants <12 months of age, immunocompromised individuals
  • For infants 6-11 months of age, MMR should be used instead of Ig if given within 72 hours post-exposure

Investigational Agents

• Some experts suggest the use of Ribavirin for the treatment of measles pneumonia in patients <12 months of age, ≥12 months of age with pneumonia requiring ventilatory support, and those with severe immunosuppression
• Some studies suggest survival benefit in patients given Isoprinosine (Inosine pranobex) and Interferon alpha/beta