Caring for a newborn baby with measles

The article was written by Specialist Doctor II Pham Thi Khuong - Pediatric Center - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

Newborns contract measles because their mothers are infected with measles virus in the last 2-3 weeks of pregnancy, or during labor or right after birth, leading to transmission to the baby. Measles in babies is very dangerous, so mothers need special care to avoid complications for the baby.

Clinical manifestations of measles in neonates are often atypical, including the following:
Mild fever, mild cough. Measles-like rash: A pinkish, slightly raised rash on the skin, smooth but not sequentially growing from behind the ears, face, and trunk for three days, but can be seen on the back or chest first. The rash does not grow thick, anorexia, quit suckling. Your child may have diarrhea or vomiting. The disease is not as rampant as in older children because the mother's immunity is transmitted through the placenta.

Measles in infants is very dangerous because after having measles, the body's immune response is reduced due to the measles virus causing immunosuppression, so children are susceptible to dangerous bacterial infections if they are not treated properly. proper treatment.
Most measles-related deaths are due to complications of the disease. Complications usually occur in children under 5 years old or adults over 20 years old. The most common complications of measles include: blindness due to corneal ulcers caused by not cleaning the eyes daily, encephalitis, severe diarrhea that causes dehydration, ear infections, or severe respiratory infections like pneumonia.
If the infant has signs of measles, the mother should take the baby to the hospital because the course of measles in young children is often very serious.

The baby's mother has been vaccinated with all necessary vaccines since the age of vaccination and has a healthy body and an optimistic spirit before, during pregnancy. It is best to check your overall health before planning to become pregnant, and have regular antenatal check-ups at a trusted medical facility/hospital. Only full and timely measles vaccination for mothers is the best way to prevent children from getting measles during the neonatal period.
If there are children in the family with suspected measles, they must be isolated immediately so as not to infect other children.
Absolutely do not arbitrarily give antibiotics or vitamins to children without a doctor's prescription. Let the child lie in isolation in an airy, draft-free room, abstain from wind and dirt.

When taking care of a newborn with measles, the doctor recommends that the mother wash the child's limbs with boiled water to cool or water with healthy leaves such as marjoram, and green tea,... It is important to use clean water, Clean leaf supplies and rinse the leaves before cooking the bath water is okay.
It is necessary to avoid the natural wind blowing but not to turn on the fan in the room. You can turn on to cool the air because if it is too hot, sweating will make the patient uncomfortable and even worse.
Measles in children is only dangerous when detected late and improperly cared for and treated because most children have measles in the normal form. Therefore, mothers before becoming pregnant should check their overall health and always keep their spirits up and healthy during pregnancy to prevent measles in babies. When a child has measles, do not arbitrarily buy medicine or give the child antibiotics, it is necessary to take the medicine as prescribed by the doctor. Please take the child to the doctor for proper and timely treatment.